spellgrinders | ( TDM

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!tdm

( TDM | #5 )

IMPORTANT: This TDM is something a little different -- it's a mix of 4th Wall shenanigans and test driving. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come and make this spooky experience even more creeptacular, and all threads are canon. Any weird happenings, magic shortages or flip-flopping for new characters will just be considered part of the strangeness of the night.

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.

The foreign moon has come as close to the hub island as it possibly can, and the nocturnal deer aren't the only things acting up at this point. Those with intact spiritual intuition or with the power of emotional understanding will have felt the heaviness in the air, and as the days have dragged on that thickness has only intensified.

Tonight that thickness might be explained by the heavy fog that's settled in on the island. However, that doesn't mean it's all that's making the night unsettling.

All across the island, spirits are taking shape. They're humanoid in nature and completely devoid of sound -- like holographic projections with the audio broken. They flashstep around at times, and other instances they'll walk around like a normal person. Their mouths move and yet no sound escapes. They tangibility is as erratic as their movements. In one moment they have control over their solid mass, despite being translucent, but other times they can walk through walls or pass right through flesh.

Their clothes are indicative of a somewhat modern time period, and sometimes they're indistinguishable from other coven members outside of their blue, sepia-toned hue.

Another inconsistency is that their demeanor and actions are as varied as any modern society's. Some of these spirits are confused and angry. Some are trying to go about life as best they can. One might be able to pick up a sword and swing it, while another might want to braid your hair. Ages, strengths, dispositions...they match the state of the person as they once were.

But where do new, potential coven members come into this equation.

Brie's been pretty busy trying to fix the wild boar problem that the island has been having, which the results? It's hard to tell if they're paying off, yet. She's somehow smuggled out some Elto bones and tried to use them as something of an electric fence system around the boar-dense areas.

The boars who are alive seem to be reacting well! Others, however, are not.

die temporarily

Despite the creepy air the island holds right now, let's say you want to do something...normal. No boars, no spirits. Just some good ol' fashioned test driving. You have a few options, though they still may be tinged with the spirit of...spirits.

There's a lot to see on the island

GAME NAVIGATION

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[ it hasn't been long since she realized her current state of things. maybe that's because she hasn't been paying much attention to the time at all, but the way his hand almost touches her is enough. enough to remind her, enough to set her down. she can tell he's frustrated by it - it's not really something you notice until you can't do it at all - and riza wonders what would happen if he could touch her. fully. solidly.

i didn't perform the transmutation

riza lets out a sigh, a rush of air, that seems to take with it all of the panic and worry and uncertainty. like that was all she needed, in that moment, despite the glaring details she should be asking for on top of it.

he didn't do it. he didn't.

when she deflates, her eyes fall closed a moment, still keeping her hand as much in his as she can in this state. still needing that one touch to ground her. she lets her eyes close and she breathes, again, feeling as though that worry and panic had been living inside her for weeks. ] Thank you. [ she barely whispers, before opening her eyes again to look at him.

to watch, when he confesses, and to frown at him when he does. riza just nearly reprimands him for it too, reminds him that it wouldn't have worked and that it was impossible and that he would have walked directly into their trap and countless other reasons, but i didn't takes much of the wind out of that. ]

I'm glad you listened. [ and yes, okay, she just about adds for once in there, but decides not to press her luck. instead, she lets a small smile creep out as she looks at him, checks him over for real, now that she knows it's truly him. it's a bit off-putting, noticing the difference between the two of them. how very solid and alive and okay he is.

but that's wrong, because she is also alive. ]

And the Elrics succeeded? It's over?

[ the thank you causes something of a slump in his shoulders -- and, yes, perhaps a tiny bit of nagging guilt. because while hiding the real portion of the story from the elrics is excusable, hiding it from riza is not. and, eventually, roy will tell her the full story -- of the gate and the truth and the fall of father . . . but right now, she just needs to know what she needs to know in order to get through the next five minutes.

it's a well-practiced artform, between the two of them, learned from ishval and carried through to now. sometimes, all that matters is the next five minutes. ]

For the most part.

[ roy is still not in charge of the entire country, but. you know. with time. ]

My goal still hasn't been achieved, but theirs has. [ which, you know. that counts for more than roy can say, and it's obvious in his tone that it matters, immensely. and he frowns at riza for a moment, scanning her features, before allowing his eyes to wander -- turning, slightly, but still keeping a hand on her wrist. to keep her grounded. ] There has to be some way to fix whatever the hell is going on . . . I didn't arrive here like this.

[ she notices the slump, but files it away for something to deal with later. of course her first thought isn't that he's lying to her, but that maybe she overstepped in saying it at all. maybe there's more to the story he hasn't quite got to yet. she doesn't blame him - from what he's told her, there is enough that happens, but he doesn't do it. he doesn't perform it. they make it out.

he's okay.

so she pulls herself back together. riza hawkeye is a soldier, if nothing else, and once she can catch her feet on something solid she can push herself back up. if that something solid happens to be roy's hand at her wrist. ]

And the city is safe? [ because really, when it comes to immediate goals, that had been a big part of her's. roy's vision extends for years, centuries, history books that will state the years and political happenings and chances that they had. she is not surprised to hear that his goal hasn't yet been achieved. but if they were able to keep millions of people from an untimely death, she considers that a win.

which is why she is smiling before he even answers, knowing for herself that it's true. they made it. a hail mary, successful in the end. she watches his eyes move, watches them wander, and she's brought back to the here. now. ]

Oh. [ her eyes fall back to her body, like she'd forgotten her current state of existence. at the realization of it, her body seems to fade a little more, in and out of solid mass. ] No one seems to have any idea what's happening, either. They said the g-ghosts are new. [ she stutters for a half-second over the word, but pushes forward anyway. ] But most of them don't speak, or can't.

Central, and Amestris, are safe.

[ the homunculi are dead, and good fucking riddance, to be honest. roy doesn't take a particular delight in killing people, and he never has, contrary to his reputation from ishval, but there was a particular satisfaction in removing the life from lust and from envy.

murderous abominations that they were.

but at any rate: ]

Edward informed me that this place seems to be run by magic, but in the same breath, informed me that magic doesn't exist. [ it's said with the long-suffering tone of a man who has had many a conversation with edward elric and, as a result, expects such things ] He and Alphonse are both here, but neither of them remember what I do. Neither of them have their bodies back, but they both seem to be fine. Contrary, as usual.

[ or, at least, ed was. al, as always, is the picture of helpfulness. ]

They'll both have more of an idea of what's going on, I think, than I would. But whatever is happening, it must have to do with the nature of this world, and our captors. Which means it can likely be reversed.

[ she nods - once - at the confirmation. feels it settle like a coat over her shoulders. they are safe. it worked. everything they worked so hard to do, everything they sacrificed- it's a first step, sure, and there is a long road after it. a road to ishval, a road to rebuild, but they made it there.

riza lets out another breath, settling more into herself. and with each passing second, it gets easier. something to do, something to work towards. she may not be solid, but she can be her. ]

Magic? [ there's no point trying to hide the suspicious tilt to her tone, one brow arching. it's uncertain if that look is because edward elric was talking about magic or if it was due to magic being mentioned at all, but it's there all the same.

and then he says it - neither of them have their bodies back - and riza freezes up for another moment. of course they would, roy had mentioned that the boys succeeded, but it takes a second or so before she can push herself back out of it. because she trusts him, wholly and entirely, so it's not much second guessing as it is giving her the moment to accept it and keep going. ]

So they are missing memories and...their bodies, then? [ she pauses, then she looks back to him, curious. ] Did you tell them what happens? [ because she can imagine that could go a few different ways.

she presses her lips into a line at his comment, keeping her uncertainty about whatever about this could be reversed to herself. instead, she nods. it would be better if they could, she would be of better use if they could, so she will default to his direction in this.

( being able to change out of this coat, being able to actually look at the wound, are also benefits to it all. she's alive, she knows she is, but the current state of her body leans otherwise and she'd like to right that. )

roy's hand is still around her wrist. she becomes aware of this in the same moment she realizes she still doesn't quite feel safe enough to remove her wrist from his hold. ]

Have you had any contact with our captors?

I told them what they needed to know about what they missed out on.

[ which is roy's way of saying: I told them the good parts, and purposefully left out the bed. because why give them how horrible the journey was when the end goal is so wonderful? they don't need to know anything more than they need to know. ]

Edward and Alphonse both tell me that our captors brought all of us here, against our will, to fulfill some sort of purpose. I'm not entirely sure what that is, yet, but I haven't encountered anyone claiming to work for them -- simply more educated kidnap victims.

[ that being said: ]

Edward was a wealth of mostly useful information. Alchemy is nullified here, but the witch -- our reigning captor -- grants us an ability in its stead. Everyone gets one, apparently, but I haven't bothered to figure out what mine is yet.

[ roy, incidentally, has been busy being pestered by elrics. ]

[ she hears that answer, and then the answer he doesn't give. what they needed to know means that he hadn't told them everything. riza finds herself frowning a bit at the realization, but she simply nods.

he has his reasons. she knows he does. and while she doesn't agree with it most of the time, she trusts his reasoning and his decisions enough not to argue. about this point. right now. ]

They want us here for a purpose but they won't tell us what it is?

[ her opinion on that is clear enough in her voice, but then roy is talking about alchemy and powers and the witch and riza needs a second or two to blink. ] If you can't use alchemy... [ you're all but useless. but she doesn't say that. yet. ] Do we have any idea what these abilities do? Or what they could do?

[ riza, naturally, will hear the entire story, but not right now. first, roy has to figure out how to free her from whatever the hell happened to her, which . . . is likely outside of his control, for the time being. ]

I was told by two individuals who were also kidnapped, in addition to the Elrics, that we are here because of a being named Qri. In order to go back home, we must travel throughout this world and collect "magical energy" [ finger quotes and all ] in order to restore Qri's power, somehow. No one knows more than that.

[ judging from roy's tone, he thinks it's Total Bullshit, and these people kidnapped them probably to kill them eventually. whatever. ]

[ but just because riza didn't say he was all but useless doesn't mean that roy doesn't hear her quiet concern, loud and clear, and he huffs to himself. ]

I can shoot a gun, Lieutenant.

[ in exasperation, because HE LEARNED HOW TO DO OTHER THINGS, it isn't his fault the rest of his team is also equally talented and therefore roy slacked off because they obviously could do everything else but spontaneously combust things ]

Edward can create invisible barriers, which he demonstrated adequately. [ by saving roy from a murder pig but riza doesn't need to know that ] And I don't know what Alphonse is capable of, but from what I understand, the ability can be anything. I don't know what I can do, yet.

[ with any good fortune, it's light shit on fire. ]

[ she knows he will, and that is why she isn't pressing him for it. there is more than just a little information that goes into 'we won', but she understands the need to prioritize.

it also seems that the colonel was a lot more productive when it came to gathering information. she tries not to feel a little put out by that, assuming it has to do with her current corporeal state, but she frowns a bit anyway. ]

And we're not told what we're supposed to do to help this Qri? Or how we're supposed to collect the energy? [ it seems ENTIRELY TOO INEFFICIENT, but still. it's better than where she was just ten minutes prior, and she'll take it, crossing her arms for a moment in thought.

it's at his comment she looks up from where her eyes had wandered, blinking once and looking entirely unconvinced. even in the face of his own exasperation.

but then they're moving on, and the colonel mentions invisible barriers and riza finds herself nodding without even thinking about it. she unfolds her arms to look down at her hands, her mind wandering. ] Is this supposed to be my ability?

Of course not; dictators rarely tell the oppressed what their ultimate goals are.

[ which spells out precisely what roy thinks about this entire situation -- they are prisoners, expected to dance when told, and bow when told, and roy is having None Of That, thank you. the fuhrer didn't die for him to be swept to another megalomaniac.

but at riza's next question, roy shakes his head quickly. ]

No. There are too many people affected -- from what Edward tells me, the gift is unique. This is too common for it to be your ability. It likely has something to do with the planet we're residing on -- our current jail cell.

[ he is SO BITTER ]

But we'll figure out how to rectify it, and bring you to a hospital.

Edited 2017-10-30 16:34 (UTC)

Which means she expects us to sit around and accept what is happening. [ there is a slowly creeping edge to her voice - unhappy with the situation, and the idea, of being manipulated like this. again. she frowns, her mouth a thin line.

it is better, riza thinks, knowing the colonel is here. that with him here, they'll figure a way out of it.

the bitterness brings an almost-smile to her, but she's able to hold it back, letting it instead relax that slowly building panic somewhere in the pit of her stomach. ]

I'm fine, Colonel. [ which is not really true, at this point. she just hasn't been solid enough to actually feel the pain of her wound. but in that moment, it's not a bother. ] Though I'm not of much...use. Like this. [ she holds up her hands, which are only partially there, making her all but useless when it comes to weapons, protection, holding anything... ]

[ riza is not fine, because roy distinctly remembers her condition, and how the alkahestrist -- mei -- had healed riza at roy's begging (though, truth be told, mei likely would have healed riza regardless, but roy had definitively begged her to do it). ]

I don't need alchemy to defend myself. [ to answer her later concern first, and roy gently tugs -- leading her toward a safer area, instinctively, so he can continue talking to her, and to bring her closer to a place to heal her wounds, if riza should suddenly materialize without notice. ] Our primary concern is finding a place for you, once we fix . . . whatever this is. The girl from Xing, Mei Chang -- she healed you, from this. [ with a slight wave of his free hand, a gesture of his gloved fingers towards riza's wounds. ] And if alchemy and alkahestry are neutralized here, then we need a hospital.

[ that, judging from roy's tone, is not optional. riza first. roy second. ]

Edited 2017-11-01 03:19 (UTC)

[ moving with roy's tugging comes almost subconsciously, his guidance prompting her immediately to follow. to step with him off to the side. it's odd, in a way, how little she is noticing these things, how kind of off it all seems. she notices it more in comparison to roy's attention, efficiency, and effort.

maybe she is less fine than she thought?

at roy's insistence, though, she gives him a look. i don't need alchemy to defend myself. no, maybe he doesn't. they all had their own level of training as required by the government, a baseline for soldiers before each was allowed a different path. riza sometimes forgets that the colonel can even work a gun himself, with how he uses, and depends, on alchemy. but he does have a point.

she nods, feeling a light stretch of....what. skin? not-skin? at her neck. ]

Can we trust a hospital, here? [ the question comes without thought, but riza looks to roy anyway. ] Not to question your orders, Colonel. But given the situation, shouldn't we question any possible government-run establishment for working with Qri?

[ the mention of mei, of what happens back home, of being healed sends a strange sensation to the pit of her stomach. like she missed a step, falling just a few extra inches for setting herself straight again. right. she survives back home. he told her that. ]

No, we can't, but we have little choice.

[ at least with a hospital, roy can get names. identifies. numbers. it's contained, so he'll be able to memorize the layout and navigate it accordingly. openly asking people for some sort of ability he can't vet or examine with his own eyes is out of the question, and he's already having a hard enough time letting anyone he doesn't know near riza's neck.

ugh. ]

-- the Elrics will have a better idea on where to go. They've been here for some time, and I'm sure they've been in need of some medical help in the interim.

[ roy is so tired of those boys getting injured smh. ]

[ as long as roy as thought about it, then there isn't much more she can do, nodding in agreement as her eyes start to scan the area around them. truth be told, she hadn't been picking up on the layout of the place they ended up - too lost in trying to figure out what was happening - and the guilt of that eats away at her. ]

Okay. [ because he's right. they don't have a choice. but more than that, she knows that any more pushback on the idea will make roy respond in kind, and the argument won't end.

so for now - okay. they will find a hospital. and find...some way to fix this. and they will get the elrics help to do so. ]

Should we find the Elric Brothers, then? [ even though that is...on the list of some of the last things she wants to do. explaining this, and then the wound on top of it? but roy has the next steps, not her, so she asks him instead. ]

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( TDM | #5 )

DONT SMH ME

YOU COME INTO MY HOUSE

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