( TDM | #6 )

[spellbindmods]

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.

ou 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 jewelery inserted in the space above your chest. That certainly wasn't there before you opened your eyes. A ▢ THus hub island is getting pretty chilly, which means the forest that contains the large, dinner-plate sized spiders is very still and quiet. No spiders are out and about to jump your characters -- but they are underground, lying in wait. Sometimes the best way for characters to get accustomed to their magic is to trigger their fight or flight response. One wrong step in the forest and they'll find their foot through a spider's brushy trapdoor or putting a little too much pressure on it for their liking. Are you ready to see what your character is made of? B ▢ The recent surge of rain has caused a few marshy areas, be it in the forest or a hilly landscape. Some swampy ground is more aggravating than treacherous, but the opposite is also true. Your character is strolling along, trying to find their way and all of a sudden SCHLUMP! Their leg is sunk into the ground up to their nether regions. Struggle, and the rest of them might fall in too...! C ▢ While your character is trying to figure out where the fuck they are, they may come across something scuttling about through the forest. Don't panic -- it's simply a scanner pod doing its due diligence and scouting for resources...oh! And it just happened upon something interesting: your character! This scanner robot is curious to investigate and record your data. Is your character going to trust them to do their job, or will they be suspicious of this looming machine?

Here's the part where they finally locate something of use: the base camp. The murky, weathered location is a little distressed, and resource gathering is making coven members sparse. However, that doesn't mean helpful answers aren't only a step away. D ▢ One thing of note is that as they get closer to the base camp, characters will feel more and more of that strong, telepathic surge. Qri's caravan is sitting in the middle of the open area, which may explain the stronger magical signals. Traveling closer to this object, in particular, will cause that unfamiliar pang of intuition to feel that much stronger -- which also explains why their own thoughts are being broadcast recklessly to everyone else on the island. E ▢ Speaking of Qri's caravan, the floating "vehicle" currently has its trap door, hammerspace portal open. It's quite large and inviting, honestly. Want to get closer to Qri? Or maybe just take shelter from the few sprinkles that are still falling from the sky? Crawl on in! Just be warned: the door will close right behind your character, and that thing gets claustrophobic after a while. F ▢ Finally, since Brie is aware that a new world is approaching, she's gotten a little more weapon-obsessed. There are an assortment of weapons just laying all over the place, from swords to spears, from slingshots to...god, what even is that thing your character has never seen before. Whether they're curious about something and like to touch things that don't belong to them or Brie is trying to outfit them with a weapon that works for them, your character is now weaponized. What do??? 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

Comments

b

[sealeted]

..............

[Hakuno blinks, very slowly, her eyes riveted to that familiar profile.

There are many, many things shwe wants to say—so many that they tangle and clog her throat, literally choking her up with emotion. She thinks of the last time she saw him, resplendent and defiant with Leo at his back, and a small, faint smile settles on her lips.

She finds her words, even though she hasn't actually registered his just yet.]

Gawain. It's... good to see you again.

[triplebuster]

[ It's been months since the underwater trials at Seraphix, the war on the moon even longer, but in his memories remain a fellow prisoner—no—the Master whom Leo held in high regard. She was behind that wall of fire as he and Leo sought for their liberation.

What happened after his departure, he wonders?

It seems she survived. Or maybe she was taken from that hell, too? No matter. Anywhere is better than there, so Gawain can only smile brightly. ]

The pleasure is mine, Hakuno Kishinami. It's been quite a while. How are you?

[sealeted]

...good.

[Her words tangle again. How can she sum it up? How can she make sense of the crushing guilt and overwhelming, giddy joy at being alive, at being free of the Moon Cell and Grail and even Earth itself, the unceasing purview of her spiritron creator and prison? How can she even begin to describe what she owes him, owes all of them, what she's been trying her best to live up to and pay back, little by little and day by day?

There's a debt between them, even if she won their Elimination Match.]

Even better, now that I get to see another familiar face. Robin is here too—Sir Blackmore's Archer. ...my Archer now, technically, since we contracted here when we first arrived, for convenience.

[triplebuster]

[ Is she so surprised? No, surprise probably doesn't even begin to describe what she must be feeling. Hakuno is not normally so at a loss for words, so she must have witnessed something horrible that would make her flinch.

... Well, it's not as if he doesn't know. Now that she's here, it seems that he will have the chance to repay a debt of his own at last. The well-being of his former Master's friend is naturally of high priority, and to have one more thing to fight for is never a burden. ]

Ah, yes... I remember Sir Blackmore. He was an exemplary Master and outstanding warrior. Truly a man of honor.

[ Is he just going to—

Yes. ]

Though I don't remember him receiving orders from Chaldea to rayshift to another singularity, ignore our duty to humanity, and contract with another Master.

[ Although his smile is bright as ever, his words drip with spite. ]

[sealeted]

[She tilts her head up at him and frowns, a bit of the old—from his perspective—blunt, straightforward Hakuno Kishinami shining through.]

Well, for the first part, you're every bit as much a truant as he is. Qri didn't ask any of us whether or not we wanted to be here when she took us, you know, and I don't think it's wrong for a Servant severed from their Master and a Master severed from her Servant to join up. Or does Chaldea look down on collaboration like what we went through on the Far Side?

[She tilts her head.]

I never really had the time to mention it before, but you're pretty small-minded sometimes, aren't you Gawain?

[And then, like an afterthought—like a follow-up punch—she says:]

Well, if we end up in a high-frequency world, I guess you'll just take the high road and subsist on whatever mana you can naturally consume. That's fine. Robin might complain a little, and I'm not much of a fighter, but we'll protect you if things get dangerous, okay?

[triplebuster]

Kgh...!

[ It's a triple combo finish. Gawain nearly sinks into the swamp himself. Tough as he is, there is literally nothing he can do against Hakuno's brutal attacks.

Truant? Him?

(Small-minded is fair.) ]

You are as feisty as ever, my lady...

[sealeted]

Life's too short for hypocrisy, Gawain.

[She seems so sage, for a moment.]

...well, I assume it is, anyways. Gilgamesh ripped me out of the Moon Cell entirely before I ended up here, so I'm not actually certain what my life span is going to be, in the end.

[triplebuster]

[ Gawain eyes her with careful curiosity. ]

... Are you not human in this world?

[ He assumed that Qri's magic had done its part. But to what cost? ]

[sealeted]

...or squirrel, depending on how I feel. In some worlds, I can still use Code Casts. But, I don't know how long Qri intends to keep me, or what might happen later on.

[She had to struggle her entire life, to eke out just one more day alive. She'll never take it for granted.]

[triplebuster]

[Squirrel?]

I see... The sentiment is no different from that of our own, I suppose.

[He means Heroic Spirits, the life of each one a miracle of the Grail.]

Servants are summoned to aid their Masters in their time of need. Their contracts, severed when their duties come to an end. It is a chance we that might never encounter again, however short. Perhaps that is why we struggle—ah, no. That is why we all strive in earnest.

I'm certain you've undertaken this endeavor, Miss Kishinami. Leo would have been more than happy to know that.

[sealeted]

...I hope so.

[She's not sure if she's that altruistic; worldhopping is more or less what Gilgamesh had intended for her anyways. But, she wants to live as much as possible, for as long as possible, without hurting as many people as possible.]

Has your new Master been treating you well?

[triplebuster]

Yes! My Ritsuka is good, just, and ever dedicated to her cause.

[If he was a dog, his tail would be wagging right here.]

Oh, she would be delighted to meet another Master like herself. There are few people her age in Chaldea, and the Servants her age, even less...

[sealeted]

...oh. Robin made it sound different from a Holy Grail War, so I hoped that person was at least able to keep some friends...

[Her expression wilts a little, before she willfully shakes off the gloom trying to settle over her.]

‘Your’ Ritsuka, is it?

[triplebuster]

[He'd try to correct Hakuno, but part of him hesitates. In the end, a fellow Master was undoubtedly different from a Servant. It's why he thinks Ritsuka should meet Hakuno in the first place. ... Ah, this is the difference between him and Bedivere...

Anyway, this isn't the time to mope around. The Knight of the Sun never falters!]

Yes. My Master, Ritsuka.

[That's. That's all he has to say. What's the question? She's obviously his Master?]

[sealeted]

[Too straight-laced to be much fun to tease that way. It’s best to stick to the usual, it seems, and simply and sincerely point out when he strays from the right path.]

I see. ...I wonder if Robin will want to nullify our contract here. Or if he should. Can a human body handle the strain of more than two contracts without a Grail backing them up?

[triplebuster]

That is entirely up to Ritsuka, of course. But if I may be blunt, Miss Kishinami, her magical ability is much like yours; it was already mediocre to begin with.

[ Just looking at the facts!! ]

Should the laws of nature dictate that it is impossible—which I believe is most likely—I would advise that she contract with the most capable Servant she is able to support with her mana... [ So, prooooobably Robin? But he's gross and awful. ]

[sealeted]

Even when things were at their most dire and I had the support of Sakura, Rani and Rin to monitor and augment me, I only had a full contract and temporary contract simultaneously without being damaged in any way I noticed. I don't know how much my body can take, in that regard, but...

[She lifts a shoulder.]

Well, I'll ask Robin how he feels, I suppose. No point in borrowing worries.

[triplebuster]

...

[ Wait, she's just going to give up on her Servant? Just like that? That... doesn't sound very Hakuno-like. ]

I know that I expressed my qualms about the green Archer earlier, but it is in my personal interest that your protection is guaranteed.

[sealeted]

Well, I know that. But keeping Robin by my side if he'd rather be watching out for somebody else would put a bad taste in my mouth. I... am a fundamentally selfish person.

[Where her own survival comes into play, she is so very, very selfish. Selfish enough to win the War itself, to break hearts, to stumble over metaphorical corpses and reach desperately, impossibly for salvation still. Selfish enough to gamble that hard-won survival for the sake of protecting humanity, despite everything else.]

But I'm not so selfish that I would pigeonhole somebody in a role they don't want anymore. So I need to talk to Robin. I... I can worry about my safety or protection after that.

1/2

[triplebuster]

[ Now that sounds like the Hakuno he knows. If his former Master were here, Gawain would be happy to report that his assessment of her was not wrong. Setting aside the fact that this is about Robin, of all Servants...

Well, there are worse. ]

I wish you all the best, then.

[triplebuster]

[ But is this it? Is this all he can do for one of his former Master's only friends? Actually, implying that they're in the plural is pushing it, but ah, Gawain! You're disappointing the Harweys here! ]

If I may be so bold, my lady... So long as my circumstances permit, I would be happy to be your shield.

[sealeted]

Oh.

[She blinks, a bit surprised by the offer.]

Wow, where was this forthcoming generosity when I needed a fake boyfriend to provoke Lip?

[But, more importantly—]

Wouldn't you prefer to watch over Ritsuka to begin with?

1/2

[triplebuster]

To answer your first question: if my memory serves me right, Leo wanted to play the role so earnestly, I couldn't possibly take it away from him. I, Gawain, would never steal the object of my Master's affections, regardless of the relationship's authenticity.

[Hi, Lancelot. Anyway, he actually helped Ritsuka with Passionlip the second time around. Maybe Gawain is just perpetually useless to Hakuno.

But.]

[triplebuster]

As for the second: it's true that my duty to Ritsuka takes priority, but I cannot ignore Leo's kindness. If not for his quick wit, my data would have been consumed by that devilish AI... For him I have collected debts, and now I am forever in his. I do not know how to repay him.

Your heart is good and pure. If your protection would bring him honor and joy, then I shall gladly accept the task.

[sealeted]

Then, I'll thank you for the offer. But, I do need to find out how my own Servant feels before relying on your kindness.