( 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

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[lohengrins]

I do.

[ his features soften for a moment — he almost appears to be contented. ]

You're correct. Dreams allow us to strive towards something worthwhile. Happiness should be a right, not an ideal. I suppose it's necessary to remember that at all times.

[ suddenly, a tilt of the head. ]

You have an abundance of skill. There's craftsmanship to your tales — what is your name?

[storyseller]

[The idea of happiness as a right is a kind one, and one she has never been witness to. She liked this king best when he seemed soft and content. That is when such people are safest: when they do not desire your words, your body, or your death. In those moments, she may relax, even if it is only briefly.

But then the moment passes.]

I am designated by the class name Caster. It is for my storytelling that I was given that class.

[lohengrins]

[ what a strange woman. there is sadness to her that he can't quite pinpoint — she spokes as though she's attempting to avert the gaze of a beast.

percival folds his arms. his features soften again, this time not hardening again as they had before. ]

My name is Percival. Is the name you've been given...one you are fond of?

[storyseller]

[She recognizes the softness, but she can't trust it. Her answer is quiet, demure.]

It is... the name with which I feel most comfortable.

[It is not her name. It is not the truth of her existence. However—

A name is too powerful to be freely given. Anyone might know her story.]

[lohengrins]

I see.

[ there is comfort to be found in a title, he supposes. or perhaps it's normality. it's not exactly within his right to know. ]

Thank you for sharing one of your tales. Where do you hail from, lady Caster? Are you native to this land?

[storyseller]

No. I was summoned here, I know not how. The land I am from is called Persia, or the Middle East.

[It's not entirely certain, because the boundaries shifted; Kitabu 'alfu Laylatin wa-Laylah was once Hazar Afsan, which may have found their origins in various Indian texts. But Shahrazad was invented for the Iranian iteration of the tale, and bears an Iranian name. So while the impression of her, culturally, is mixed, she would call Persia her homeland.]

[lohengrins]

[ persia...suddenly, he looks around, and the realization dawns upon him... ]

You and I aren't from the same world; the land you hail from is unknown to me. From what I've gathered, many of us have come from different universes.

[ another tilt of the head. ]

Lady Caster. Do you fear me?

[ it is a brash, tactless question — but it is one that must be asked. his gaze is not cold; it's more sympathetic than anything. fear is simply something he knows like the back of his hand. ]

[storyseller]

[She recognizes his claim and comes to understand it. Different worlds. It makes perfect sense.

She does not look up except through the veil of her eyelashes. In doing so, she assess him, measure and calculates. Attempts to seek a path away from death.]

Yes. I am afraid... that you will kill me.

[lohengrins]

[ he looks at her, wordlessly -- his expression is not cold, nor is it hostile. he appears to be doing little more than thinking.

suddenly, he unsheathes his sword...and seconds afterward does he allow it clatter, as it drops to the ground. a hand now resting against his hip, percival looks towards caster, his features gentle yet firm in their resolve. ]

I will not kill you. It's my duty to protect the populace of the realm -- to protect the vulnerable, even if our origins may differ.

If you can't find it in your heart to believe me, you are welcome to take my blade for yourself. But I will not kill or harm you: I swear by this.

THIS TAG, MAN!!! THIS! TAG! i got it while shopping and like had to muffle a noise of delight

[storyseller]

[Her eyes widen as the sword comes out, her staff moving before her, nerves running through her, as she regrets a misreading, as she fears she has made a terrible mistake—

And then it falls. Caster stares at Percival, gripping her staff tight, as if it holds her up. Her breath is caught in her throat.]

I... You bear the demeanour of one who is Sovereign. Part of what I am allows me to identify this. Is this... not so?

I'M GLAD I COULD PLEASE percy is always extra

[lohengrins]

[ her fear has become known — it is splayed out before him, raw and unadulterated. something swims in percival's eyes, as though a part of him understands this feeling.

he makes no effort to move towards her. ]

I am Percival of the Wales family. I am... [ he swallows, but he does not permit himself the luxury of averting his gaze as he speaks the truth. ] not yet a king. I strive to create a land where even the most vulnerable can prosper — a land without war and subjugation.

I am far from achieving this dream of mine. And I am still studying...still learning what it means to be a king who is worthy of his people.

[ he gradually drops to a single knee. ]

But I am still a Knight. It is my duty to both protect and serve those who are in need, regardless of where one may hail from. I know nothing of what you have endured — but I do know what it means to live in fear, if even for a moment. I will not kill you.

i love this extra ass

[storyseller]

[She wants to believe. She wants to feel safe. She wants to give him what he wants, her comfort and her peace of mind and her trust.

And yet—

Her eyes squeeze shut, tight. Though he kneels before her, she still does not feel like she could defend herself]

I wish to believe that that is so, Lord Percival. My intuition tells me that you are a sincere man, and not one whose feelings alter on a whim. My instincts tell me you will not cause me harm, and will protect me if you are able.

Yet, having experience of which you cannot know, I still am afraid. Please allow me time to verify my impression of you.

[lohengrins]

[ the words do not hurt him — he feels sorrow, but not for himself. anyone who feared a king did so with good reason.

it is a shame that she has been given one of her own.

an arm crosses over his chest, and he slowly rises again. percival shakes his head, smiling. ]

Trust is earned, not given. I'm but a stranger to you — you owe me nothing.

[ his eyes are soft as he speaks. ]

I have few doubts that our paths will cross again. If you're in need of aid or protection, I'll be at your disposal. For the meanwhile, I suppose I should leave you be.

[ and so he kneels down to pick up his sword, sheathing it once again. ]

Take care, Lady Caster.

[storyseller]

Thank you, Lord Percival. I think... that I will not be so afraid, when I meet you again.

[She believes that. She has hear fears, but she believes that to be true.]