( TDM | #1 )

[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.

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. Depending on your situation and ability to acclimate, you may not fully understand what's happening. A dream, a hallucination. But when you feel the trunk of the trees surrounding you, it's oddly...real. The smell is real. The moisture on the ground is real. The small grass snake you find slithering close to your feet seems very real as well. There are a few other sensations that also begin to feel a little more like reality with every passing second. Like the fact that your intuition is trying to tell you something that doesn't seem plausible. One is more obvious -- you now have a new piece of jewelry inserted snuggly between your collarbones. Maybe that's when you realize it is real. When you realize that there's no delusion here -- you aren't where you once were. But if that's the case...where are you? 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. There's also a mysterious trail of soft, felt bags, tied off with thin rope, leading your character to what appears to be a specific destination. These items can be as useful as a granola bar to as seemingly useless as a stapler. Let's just say that some of these mysterious objects are pretty out there. They're free to travel off the beaten path, but that comes with its own perils. Maybe your character has a power that could fend these creatures off...? They aren't exactly happy about sharing their territory.

After an hour or so of trekking through the forest, you finally come upon a break in the tree line that reveals to you an area that appears to be inhabitable. Your first stop is the large mansion that sits in the valley of the opening...if anyone is here or there's a way to get out of here, the house makes the most sense, right? There are a variety of rooms in this mansion, and you're free to explore them. You also spy a lot of crates sitting in the middle of the floor in one of the main rooms...are you curious enough to open them? B ▢ Feel free to have your character explore the mansion (the won't find much but you can take some liberties with the TDM), and they're free to open these mysterious crates. In them they'll find edible fruit and bread, modern clothing in a variety of sizes and portable medical kits. Characters who apply using the TDM are free to carry these objects into the game opening. If you want some specifics, there are a few rooms of note: the game room (containing a working pool table, non-electric pinball machines and a card table with supplied chips and multiple decks), the cellar (filled with a variety of liquor and wines, all aged quite well) and a large room upstairs that contains a glass ceiling and a variety of books in a foreign language. One more thing -- if you happen to go rummaging around, you may find tiny pin cameras. They're minuscule...you may not even notice them unless you look hard enough. At this point you notice that you aren't alone -- there are other people in the same boat as you! When they're around you, that signet you feel in your chest tingles slightly. The sensation isn't unpleasant, but instead like a warm tingle is spreading from their neck outward. You instinctively attempt to talk to your fellow kidnapping victims, and that works just fine...but what are all these voices you hear in your head now? Are you crazier than you thought you were? C ▢ Here's where you can play around with the telepathy mechanic. It's likely your character won't be used to it which can lead to accidental broadcasting. If they happen to tap the signet purposefully or try to pull it out, everyone within a radius of 100 feet will feel a throbbing pain in their head. But your character won't know that, will they? For those more inclined to adventure, there's also another building to investigate. From the outside, it looks very circular and unidentifiable, but upon entering you'll discover that it's a fully-functioning bath house. D ▢ Despite containing steamy water and luxury bathing accommodations, the bathhouse is currently being overrun with crabs. The not-so-smart members of this species have fallen into the extremely hot water, flash boiling themselves after being unable to get back out. Others are a little more intelligent but equally aggressive. Characters: watch your toes and be cautious if you really want to take a much-needed bath! They may also want to check twice before using the restroom, otherwise the experience might be more painful than they're used to.

Exploring the mansion and the bathhouse was fun and all, but aside from the crates they didn't prove to be very useful. When you came into the clearing, you also saw a row of very colorful buildings down near the beach. It makes sense that this area may be more beneficial to any escape plans you have, and taking a dip in the ocean might be nice! It's not until you reach the beach huts that you realize that murky blue color you spied wasn't the ocean. It's outter space. There goes any hopes you had of swimming to safety. E ▢ Time to explore the beach huts! Most of them are abandoned, but your characters will notice they seem to be more livable than the mansion somehow. This is in part due to a little note tacked to the door of each beach hut that reports in scrawling script "Claim your hut, please!" Will your character listen or reject the sinking feeling that they may not be leaving anytime soon? Some huts are also bigger than others, and a few even contain small sinks and softer beds. Grab these while they're available! Even though it turns out the ocean was a lie and you're precariously close to falling off the edge of the world, the area around the huts is decidedly beachy. Sitting on the beach is a lobster trap, though about 10 times the size of any you might have seen before. Inside are more felt sacks, though larger. The weirdest part is that peering through the bars, you notice each has a nametag attached. The reason you know this to be true is because you just spied your own name written on one of the labels. There's also something else underneath it. The descriptor may not mean much to you yet, but it will soon: it's the title of their newfound magic. In each felt sack is a sort of starter kit: a set of dated and drapey plainclothes, a bag of dried boar jerky, a leather flask filled with water and a small tube of sunblock (the writing is in a bizarre pictograph language, but the giant picture of the sun on the tube should explain the purpose). There's also a rolled up paper tied with a string that reads as follows: "Welcome. Things will be explained in due time. For now, understand that you have been blessed with a gift of magic. Look into your brain and feel the instinct for both. Practice makes perfect." F ▢ Here's the official prompt for playing with newfound magic (and telepathy if you want more practice). It's likely characters have already accidentally broadcast their thoughts, utilized the C prompt or used their magic inadvertently, but maybe this new information and small explanation has motivated them to try and see what they're truly capable of. Don't worry. If they're lucky enough to stick around, all will be explained. ...What if you're a wildcard, though? Someone who doesn't play by the rules and follows a different path, no matter what direction the world may be guiding you in? This island is large and contains many areas of interest, from crystal streams to hidden locations. Maybe you want to do something different...so break the mold and explore! 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

minato arisato | persona 3

[p_mortem]

A.
Ugh—!

[ There's a thunk of something swung hard into wood, ragged breathing and the shuffling of footsteps. Minato straightens, blinking light from his eyes and wiping off blood and sweat from his brow as he turns on the spot to see where he is. He takes one step, freezes, then turns back around to grab the hilt of the sword stuck through the tree next to him. He braces a foot against the trunk and tries to yank it straight out without further cracking the wood and toppling the entire tree, but it's proving futile.

Unless somebody comes get him, he'll just be here until nightfall, even after he's able to pry his sword loose, sitting against that same tree with a growing pile of granola bar wrappers beside him and warily eying those boars. ]

C.
[ The feeling might not be unpleasant, but it's still strange. Voices in Minato's head are usually more in the line of mentions of arcanas and bonds, not chatter. He doesn't stay very long in the mansion, grabbing some bandages from the medical kits and then leaving, broadcasting... not really a word, but something like white noise: ]

Shhhhhhhhhh.

[ Please be quiet. ]

D.
[ Heck yeah, steamed crab. Minato isn't hear to bathe, still caked with blood and grime as he is, but the smell of crab the the bathhouse would draw anybody. Crouched down on the edge of the baths, he looks around for whoever's brave enough to fend off the crabs for their turn of a good, long soak. ]

Know how to prepare crab?

[ Gestures vaguely to the bottom of the pool. Feed him. ]

Wildcard

c

[lalliho]

[This "message" is...far more disconcerting for Lalli than Minato could have ever predicted or intended. He whips around only to find himself still in an otherwise empty room, and ends up pressing himself against the wall and squinting like that's going to help sharpen that sixth sense that had been apparently stripped from him once he'd been brought to this strange place. He speaks out loud, but given the time of guy he is -- frank with his words and too wrapped up in his thoughts for his own good -- the message goes over the telepathy as well.]

You shhh. Stupid spirit... Where are you? Show yourself.

[p_mortem]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

[ Minato's mental shushing only gets louder, him stopping right in the middle of whatever room he's poking around in and closing his eyes. He slips his earphones over his ears and turns the music on in trying to drown out the voices. Here's what this stupid spirit has to say to you, Lalli: ]

—no man's land, no man ever survived, invisible hands are behind you just now—

[lalliho]

[It's a bad static, and one he's never been able to block out, but one he tries to now anyway with a clap of his palms over his ears. It doesn't stop, of course.]

No they're not.

[Never mind that his heart is hammering away at his ribcage. He knows nothing's behind him but a wall. Just a wall, no ghost with black, wispy fingers reaching out to suck the life out of him.]

Shut up! [they could literally just have a conversation about telling each other to be quiet, huh] I'm going to banish you if you don't behave.

D

[windeity]

[Being as curious as he is, John's found himself wandering into the bathhouse to check out the area and yes, okay, perhaps the smell of crab is actually reminding him that he hasn't eaten for a while. While he's eyeing Minato and trying to figure out why, precisely, he's covered in blood it's not like he can really ask given where he just came from. And also given he's in what looks like blue hooded PJs and carrying a giant colorful hammer.]

Not really, but it can't be that hard can it? I think the water is doing most of the work already.

[p_mortem]

[ No joke, those PJs look comfy and Minato wishes he were in his own pajamas and back in bed, even at the expense of missing a meal. Plain boiled crab is still good, right? He glances over at John for a moment, considers something, and then reaches into the water— immediately pulls his hand away before half his fingers submerge, and clenches his hand into a fist. ]

...It's hot.

[ YEAH. Since it was hot enough to boil crabs into that wonderful shade of red, which his fingers are starting to turn now too.

Turns out it is that hard, John. ]

[windeity]

Hey! [Oh for fucks sake, Minato, wait a minute! He's staring at the boy's hand because yeah, okay, it's harder than he thought and he's pretty sure they shouldn't be doing that again.] No kidding it's hot, jeeze.

[But he's pondering for a moment, looking around the bathhouse before his eyes light up as he spots a larger wooden bucket. Leaving his hammer behind (because fuck lugging it around literally everywhere tyvm) he's quickly moving to grab it before returning to Minato and holding it up.] What about using something like this to scoop them out? It's big enough that you can hold the edges and still dip it deep enough in the water once they are boiled.

d

[parodeity]

I mean, they are halfway preparin' themselves, let's be real.

[ dave peers into the baths. he's also not here to bathe, he's just Exploring. ]

But if we had like...butter? I think butter is usually a good thing to use?

[p_mortem]

[ When in doubt, add butter. It's sound logic. ]

Was there butter in the kitchens...?

[ He doesn't know, but he's already straightening up to go check. This building is so run down, though, he doesn't have high hopes of anything edible lying around. ]

Or maybe one of those crates.

[parodeity]

I'm not sure, I didn't really check too closely...but I don't mind lookin' with you.

[ gestures at minato's BLOOD AND GRIME, though. ]

However, I think you're in a state that most people would not want you around food, at the moment?

D.

[humenity]

I don't, but... to be honest, I almost feel bad eating them after they've fallen into the water like that.

[ Eleanor loves eating as much as the next person, but... that was pretty unfortunate. ]

[p_mortem]

Why? They're dead.

[ It's unfortunate, yes, but now they're just sitting there on the bottom of the baths, getting overcooked the longer the two of them stand there. Leaving them there, it's almost as if their lives would go to waste. ]

[humenity]

You don't feel sorry for the way that they died?

[ Look... It is true that they are already dead though. ]

a!

[akinori]

[ —There's a guy who wasn't there five seconds ago, appearing out of nowhere and swinging a word and is that— is that blood on his face?! Holy crap!! Not only that Konoha's absolutely confused that he's in a dream where he gets hurt when he pinches himself (that's not a dream), this— this place, this person, what's— just what on earth is going on?!

But alright, alright, dream or whatever it is right now, if a pinch hurts him, that means a sword will probably hurt him even more. Konoha has no intention of getting hurt no matter what situation he's in, so he needs to— he needs to get away from this guy, as far as possible.

He peeks from the tree he's hiding behind, heart racing as he tries to see what the guy is doing... ah! It seems that his sword's stuck in that tree trunk?! Lucky! Konoha takes a deep breath as he steps as carefully as possible, as quietly as possible—

But the cell phone in his pocket wishes something different. It rings and lets out a familiar electric guitar sound far, far at the loudest volume, startling Konoha and what- and whoever else around him.

It's his morning wake up alarm, except he doesn't seem to be waking up. ]

[p_mortem]

[ Minato's head jerks up at the sound, inadvertently letting go of the sword to stumble back and whip around to see what it is, hand resting over his belt at something that might be concealed there, with quick steps towards the ringing and—

a high pitched squeal of alarm, because the phone's doing its job in waking up every woodland creature in a hundred meter radius, and that includes stampeding wild boars thundering down the path the two of them stand on.

Wide eyed, Minato stares at Konoha for a moment, and turns right around. Yeah, he's got to get his sword out. ]

[akinori]

[ Oh crap crap crap crap. It takes no time for him to reach to his pocket and put his phone to silence, In the first second, Konoha could feel his heart race at the thought of Minato noticing him, but he's soon to discover that he's gonna be in a situation much, much worse.

He doesn't even know what's causing the earthquake-like sensation he's feeling under his feet, but he knows it definitely can't be good. Something is coming. His gaze catches Minato's, and his thoughts are a jumbling mix-up of shit the bloody sword guy saw me and whatever it is it's getting close shit what do I do. For a moment he considers joining forces with the sword guy because well, he's got a sword, but also, how the hell should he trust him, he's got a freaking sword!

Konoha, this isn't the time for your indecisive inner conflict, you have to actually do something RIGHT NOW!! He could hear the stomps of the boars approaching them— actually shit, they're actually here now, shit shit shit!! He couldn't even think anymore as his instinct kicks, making him jump to the tree right next to him, trying his best to climb up—

but one boar manages to catch his feet with its slimy mouth, its hot breaths sending shivers from his ankle up to his spine. Konoha curses his past childhood self and his choice to be ~cool~ by not climbing trees like a normal 9-year-old boy. ]

d

[actus]

[ Naturally, what's a delinquent to do besides explore and get his bearings? Because that's exactly what Akira has been doing since he's woken up in the forest. The bathhouse was a natural destination and he hadn't really been interested in soaking. He figured exploration was more important...! And besides, there were crabs. Who wanted to get pinched? Geez.

Still, as he's wandering through the bathhouse, hands in his pockets, slightly slouched, he can't help but notice the other guy. And the fact he's crouching and -- oh, he's talking to him, isn't he? Curiously, Akira cocks his head to the side. ]

...Not really. Doesn't really go in curry. [ he says it calmly, hand reaching up to push his glasses up a bit more. ]

[p_mortem]

Oh.

[ It'd be a disappointed 'oh' if Minato hadn't turned back to the bath, reaching out with his sword to slide the scuttling crabs over with the broad side of the blade before they fall into the water and can't be used in curry, he supposes. ]

...Thought everything goes in curry.

[actus]

Sometimes.

[ Well, he's not wrong. He just hasn't really been on the cooking scene for that long, and most of Sojior's recipes have included apples or chocolate. Crab is - well, an "acquired taste" he supposes. He watches the sword with interest, his gaze affixed to that rather than Minato. Huh.... ]

Maybe if you're feeling crabby.

[ Now is not the time for bad jokes -- ]

aaaaa hi

[setterforlife]

[ If Minato looks closely, he'll see a boy sitting on one of the boars, looking ridiculously excited, probably even breathing really hard. He'll look around him from time to time, as if wanting someone to see what he's up to. His aura is pretty much exuding: 'Look!! I don't know why but I'm riding on a boar! They don't hate me!!' The boars seem... pretty civil so far, they're just minding their business like Kageyama doesn't exist. Though, if Minato wants a peaceful time, it's best to be finding another spot, they don't seem like they're staying still for very long. ]

AAAAAAAAAAA

[p_mortem]

[ What... or why is this...

Minato might have had a year long crash coarse in reading people's faces and words, but he can't read auras. The excitement and bewilderment on Kageyama's face could mean any number of things, made even more confusing by the way his head turns this way and that. Is he... scared? Not being able to get off, or maybe he can't because the boars have taken him captive. Who knows.

It's the one time they could actually use telepathy, but Minato hasn't figured that out yet, so from where he sits against a splintered tree, he lifts his sword into the air and waves it about so that it catches Kageyama's attention.

It catches the boars' attention too, the one Kageyama is sitting on suddenly jerking around to point the two of them towards Minato, hooves pawing at the ground. ]

[setterforlife]

[ Maybe if the glint of sunshine didn't deflect from the sword, they wouldn't have noticed. But it was of no use to think about 'what if' now. The boars looked up, Kageyama looked up. His eyes focused on the blade, then to some guy holding it. Why does that guy have a sword? He wants one too! ]

Whoa!

[ The leader of the pack ー which Kageyama's conveniently riding on ー starts moving about, like it's warming itself up. Kageyama begins laying on his chest to keep a better balance, pretty much hugging the boar since there isn't anywhere else he can hold on. Hair's not an option, he doesn't want to hurt it (then get off it, dumbass).

Whenever the boars spot an intruder in their vicinity, it's a given that they have to shoo them away. No one gets close to their territory, certainly not other species. The pack of three gets two extra ones running from the other side of the river, ready to rumble. After a momentary engine charging, they start bolting towards Minato's way, loudly screeching as though to warn him. They're really quite fast, their slim legs are definitely aiding in that. It's a wonder that they can support their body weights.

As oblivious Kageyama can be, he's not completely obtuse. It's clear that these animals won't hesitate attacking that other guy. ]

Run!

[ As much as he wants to try to stop them, or at least the one he's on, his joy ride will be over anytime soon. He only has his left foot and left hand hanging on, and... ]

Buh!!

[ Ah, there he goes, down to the ground he rolls as the swines dash through him like nothing has happened. ]

A

[dangerouslyinlove]

[Ryoji woke up in the forest, and once he figured out the basics of it basically decided it was fine. It was fine, that he was here and not home, and then he couldn't endanger that world anymore, and they could all be happy. The only thing he would have wanted would be for someone to tell them that. That somehow he was somewhere else, and the Fall wouldn't come, wouldn't hurt them.

At least, for now.

He meanders through the forest, trying to get an idea of where he is and what, if anything, he can do. But he stops dead at the sight of a familiar boy leaning against the tree.]

.........Minato?

[p_mortem]

[ He's so tired. Deep in sleep in the same way only the dormitory's blaring alarms can rattle him into springing out of bed, like Aigis barging into his room every morning, or the lunch bell at school telling him that class is over and it's time to wake up. But the alarm bells going off in his head right now are of somebody's voice, of somebody who shouldn't even be here, somebody he didn't think he would ever see again and yet... Minato opens his eyes, and there he is.

Ryoji.

Standing right there in front of him and Minato's lips barely part before he presses them tightly together again, lifts a hand, and motions Ryoji closer. ]

[dangerouslyinlove]

[Ryoji's still several feet away from him, watching Minato as the other boy watches him. He's not sure how to feel about this... he's happy to see Minato, of course, but he hasn't seen anyone else here yet. So they're both separated from home. And while it is nice to see him, Ryoji's not entirely sure how his own presence will be taken.

He moves forward, slow and quiet when Minato motions for him too, stopping short just in front of him now.]

...Hey.