( TDM | #2 )

[spellbindmods]

IMPORTANT: This TDM takes place on the current world the coven is part of. Please read the linked Google Doc about the world AND be aware that the world is high-frequency, meaning canon magic and powers can be used.

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.

WORLD ONE: AIMINTAS

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... Some of you might open your eyes to find yourself wandering around a sandy area, outside of a large stone house. There's a large glimmering caravan floating around outside, which might intrigue you. There's also a lot of supplies, food, clothing...all just laying around outside. It's worth investigating, right? A ▢ Your character has found themselves arriving right outside the coven's new digs in Aimintas, and there's a lot of confusing stuff to look at. Th ocean in the sky, that floating caravan...your character probably can't get to that ocean, so they may want to examine the caravan. If they touch it, they'll immediately regret that decision -- the caravan has its own defense mechanism, and you can pick one or the other: - A1: Once your character touches the caravan, they can't remove their appendage from it. Kick it? Their foot is stuck. Touch it? Their hand is stuck. Lick it? Their tongue is stuck. They'll remain like this for 15 minutes without magical intervention. - A2: Your character's hand doesn't stay for long, but the caravan holds onto that hand for five seconds while giving your character a pretty excruciating burn. Medic! B ▢ Maybe they're smart and they don't touch the caravan. Let's go through all of this cool stuff on the ground! It might be sort of obvious that it belongs to someone -- a lot of someone's -- but your character is thirsty, confused...maybe there's some water or answers in this pile. And maybe there's also someone who catches your character going through their shit.

Other new potential coven members will find themselves in a completely different part of town. These lucky individuals will have suddenly appeared in the marketplace area of Aimintas, surrounded by walking lizard beings that suddenly turn and take an immediate interest in this stranger. C ▢ The Palai are very interested in the new coven members, and a new humanoid person -- or anyone that doesn't look like them -- will immediately catch their attention. They'll immediately find your character worth of their undivided attention, talking to them about coven-related things...pretty confusing right? If you need help with the short lizard folk, maybe someone will eventually arrive to help you out. On the other hand, you might learn something interesting talking to them. A friend might join in either way! D ▢ Once you break free of the Palai, you'll find that this marketplace is pretty interesting. It's a mixture of primitive and semi-modern technology...or is it totally unfamiliar to you? Never seen a cellphone before? Unfamiliar with the concept of women wearing pants? There's certainly something to see that'll interest your character here. E ▢ Finally, you might be hungry and thirsty after suddenly appearing. The Palai are masters of making food, including a new concoction of theirs that they're trying out in honor of all the new people. It's a sort of bottled fruit juice that has been energized by the Eltos. It's essentially the first Aimintas Red Bull, except on acid. The drink immediately makes anyone who drinks it extremely giddy, hyper and they may potentially hallucinate. It doesn't seem to bother the Palai's biology, but everyone else...oops!

The setting found in Aimintas is pretty expansive, so you have a lot of room to wander around. Here are a few things that might catch your eye if you're really committed to wandering around. F ▢ A house near the marketplace is incredibly special to the Palai people. Characters who wander near here will find a group of Palai who are even more excited about their new visitors: baby Palai. Some are still in eggs and kept inside, but the juvenile Palai are about two feet tall, rowdy and want to play with these new, bipedal creatures. Some of them still crawl around on all fours and are more lizard-like than others. Hope you're good with kids! G ▢ The Palai have constructed a large library in the middle of town. If you wander in here, you'll find a myriad of books in a strange language. The Palai are a rather visual people, though, so many include pictures and illustrations. They also have a collection of computers here that connect to the Aimintas internet, as well as visual media stations that can play videos -- though they're really just powered tablets that play video files. Time to get a little taste of the Palai culture. H ▢ 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

[yancat]

[ He lets out what can be construed as a chuckle. That's new. ]

If it takes a journey through seven valleys to survive in this world, I do hope we don't stay here for long. I've many things to do, and this certainly isn't a layover for my flight. The prince won't be happy...

[ Yet he's here, reading. But what else can he do? He's heard about the Uvis. ]

[storyseller]

[She recognizes in this two things: first, one who understands literature, and is well-versed in the legends of her land. Second, that this one is also subject to royalty.

She is alert, but her expression remains demure behind her veil. She must be cautious.]

This is an introduction of the Magics that allow one to move between worlds. It is possible that the Magic that allows for the manipulation of time is also involved. This would allow the gathering of such disparate individuals.

[yancat]

Magic... I see. [ Jumin slides the book back in its place. The more he hears about how this world works, the longer his business deals will have to wait, it seems. ]

It's not the first time I've heard of the possibility, but if so many speak of it, then it must be true.

[ He should be more bothered about this, but fretting over the entire situation is pointless. Instead, he focuses on what needs to be done. This woman seems to understand magic... She might be of help in the future.

With the slightest hint of a smile, if only as part of the pleasantries, he extends his hand and waits for her to take it. ]

Han Jumin. [ It's pointless to tell her more than that. ] I can't say I'm well-versed in Persian literature, but I try.

[storyseller]

[Conversely, it is not pointless at all for her to give her full name. All with even a passing familiarity with the literature of the Middle East would know her name and the legend attached to it. She chooses to follow the dictates of her class, rather than unveiling her name directly. Many can deduce it, given time.]

My class designation is Caster. As the title indicates, I am familiar in the ways of magic, although this is not the form of magic I am most practiced in.

[yancat]

[ Not a name, but a title? How strange. Jumin remembers hearing something about these "classes" from Yoosung and his games. He'll have to ask about that when he gets out of here.

When, not if. He won't allow any room for failure. ]

Oh? And what form of magic do you practice, Caster?

[ He's suddenly reminded of the fact that he's read a total of one book on dark magic out of sheer curiosity, and he's not even sure if it's legitimate. Maybe that was a foolish question. ]

Well... even if I ask, I doubt I'd understand. The magic I know only exists in stories.

[storyseller]

That... is the magic of which I am capable. I may summon into existence elements from those stories I tell.

[There are other magics too, but she does not reveal them. They are too revealing of her true identity. Even this is a revelation, but it is also a simple explanation.]

[yancat]

[Under normal circumstances, he'd tell her that was absurd, that fiction has no business meddling with reality, but— ]

Interesting.

So if you told the story of... let's say, a cat, [jumin no] you'd be able to summon it, correct?

[storyseller]

It is related that once, a crow and a cat lived in friendship. One day, as they were together under a tree, they saw a leopard coming towards them. However, they could not know that he was coming towards them until he was very near to them. Though the crow could fly at once to the top of the tree, the cat had no time to escape, and so it asked to its friend the crow, "Will you not save me, you in whom all my hopes are vested?"

The crow replied, "In truth, it behoves a brother and friend in times of needs to look about for some solution in times of peril."

Nearby, there were some shepherds with their dogs, to whom the crow flew. There, he dug some earth before them with his wings and called and cried out. Then he went up to one dog and flapped his wings in his face and flew up a little way towards the leopard. The dogs followed him thinking to catch him. Presently, one of the shepherd raised his head and saw the bird flying near the ground and flying alternately, so he followed him and the crow brought them to the place where the leopard was.

When the dogs saw the leopard, to whom the crow had lured them, they set upon the beast, and in this moment, cat and crow were able to flee together. And such is the end of this tale.

[As she tells the story, the images play out before her. But left behind are both cat and crow: real, physical, and capable of being interacted with.]

[yancat]

[ It's one he's heard before. Nevertheless, Jumin listens — and to his surprise, watches — the story intently as it unfolds before his eyes, Caster's magic captivating him with scenes spun from her very tale. For a man who doesn't believe in the impossible, the vivid imagery is almost dreamlike, well beyond anything he could ever make.

The crow and the cat take form, and the austere-looking man's initial surprise softens into a rare and gentle smile. He crouches to pet the cat's head, mumbling something about its beauty. ]

The cat's friendship with the virtuous crow is what saves his life. It's a simpler tale from the collection, but a wonderful one all the same. [ Though the people he cares for are few and few, it's an example he strives to live by. But the same can't be said for others. After all, ideals don't exist in reality.

Jumin scoops the cat up in his arms, and the crow perches on a nearby bookshelf to meet his height. ]

Do you like cats, Caster?

[ there are no bad answers here

only wrong ones ]

[storyseller]

[Look, you don't spend night after night figuring out the right thing to say to avoid death and not know when a dude is a cat dude.]

Of course... There are many wonderful tales of their deeds. The role in human culture is undeniable.

[yancat]

[Do your best, Nightless Caster...

Jumin stands up, his smile more evident, however slight.]

I'm glad. I believe anyone who loves animals can't be a bad person. For all the good nature has given us, it's only right to protect all life on our world. No, it's our responsibility. If the future of humanity is a precious thing, then life is even greater.

[...They are from the same world, aren't they? They know the same stories.]

[storyseller]

[She isn't so certain about good or bad people, in terms of cats. For herself, she is sure she is a coward, a liar and a manipulator. She is not good.]

It is so that humans are often unkind to animals. As well as to other humans... Again and again, we find the story that those who are unlike must be less worthy. So it is that humans mistreat animals, and each other.

[yancat]

[Jumin can only take her words at face value. He's unaware of Caster's true nature, and although he is distrustful by principle, he has no reason to doubt one he enjoys conversing with.]

It's funny how unlikeness should define one's worth. Should I think less of a commoner because he has less than I? What a subjective way of thinking. Conflict would not persist without the concept of the other, I suppose, yet such is the nature of humans. That's precisely why we must strive to be above it.

[Also, cats are cute.]

What kind of stories do you enjoy the most, Caster?

[storyseller]

[Cats are adorable, 10/10. Scheherazade's mana can't sustain the cat for too long, but she is now certain she shouldn't take the cat away from Jumin.]

I enjoy tales where cunning, wit, and good will are rewarded.

[yancat]

[ Please don't take the cat away. He'll be sad. ]

I see. I am the same. A story of wit and virtue is far more interesting than those pertaining to matters of the heart. It builds character.

[ But those aren't his favorite. ]

Did you come here to look for something to your tastes? I can't understand any of these books, so I can't tell you if you're in the right place.

[storyseller]

[Jumin do you want romance stories]

I came here merely looking for more stories to add to my understanding. However, it seems that is an impossibility for me... I will have to rely solely on the performed stories of their movies and audio stories.

[yancat]

[ NO!!!! They're boring... but only because he has like, zero experience. ]

I hope you find stories to your liking. Films and the like aren't so bad, but it is a shame we can't read the source material.

[ He reaches down to pick up the cat and hold him in his arms. It clearly isn't the first time he's held one. ]

And a shame none of them could be about cats. Is this magic not difficult for you?

[storyseller]

It... bears a cost in terms of mana. [And there is a limitation on mana. She must find a Master to sustain here, or she will once again experience death.]

[yancat]

I see.

[And of course he wants the damn cat, so he asks,]

Is there a way to give you mana?

[storyseller]

[JUMIN NO

She flushes, her eyes lowered.]

It must be transferred from a magical source. As a Servant, I am designed to receive mana through a contract with a human magus. I may also receive mana through... other means... [She doesn't want to. She doesn't want to be forced to do these things to survive. But she does not want to die.]

[yancat]

[i hate him

Why is she blushing? Is receiving mana really so embarassing? Either way, if the alternative is something she doesn't want to do, he won't force her. He was merely curious.

His voice is quiet.]

Have you made a contract?

[storyseller]

[There is a quick, sharp shake of her head.]

I... require a human who has great magic potential. I hope, also, to find one who is not likely to kill me...

[yancat]

The latter can be be found with some common sense.

[ People are far less likely to disclose their magical prowess but he's in a different world now. The rules he's always known don't apply. It's a little frightening. At the same time, refreshing?

Caster seems afraid. Understandable; the threat of an Uvi attack is ever present. Everyone's lives are important without question, but Caster holds an exceptionally remarkable talent he's never seen before. Also, the cat in his arms is soft and fluffy.

It's really, really, fluffy. ]

Alright. I'll help you find a magus.

[storyseller]

[She's surprised, and looks up at him.]

Thank you. I appreciate that kindness very much.

[who knew you could make friends so easily with a magic cat]

[yancat]

No need to thank me. I'm always kind.

[no]

[Also they're not friends. (They are.)]

Should you ever feel that your life is in danger, I can send you body— Ah, no. I don't have the resources for that at the moment.

[Hm. Being poor is weird.]

But a person with exceptional talent and wit must be given patronage. Lift their burdens and they will realize what they're truly capable of.