( 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

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[unendured]

[ Yuri is doing what she can to keep her mind completely blank, not wanting to accidentally broadcast any of her thoughts, and since arriving on this not!beach she's been keeping to herself.

The explanation of magic does intrigue her, but it's but a passing thought when she witnesses a cloud of glitter appear out of no where. ]

That's going to be stuck on you for days.

[ Said at a distance because like hell she's going to meet the same, glittery state. ]

Is that your "magic"? [ Invisible quotations aside, Yuri sounds more apologetic than anything else. She doesn't feel absolutely sympathetic but it's clear in her tone that she's not being sarcastic—that's a little impossible for her. ]

[torching]

[ yeah, he's learned about keeping his mind blank, too. it's kinda hard, though. yuri probably heard a loud curse word over telepathy, and yep, that came from this guy.

anyway, he doesn't mean to be rude? but if this is his magic, then. uh. wow. ]

No way!

[ he's pretty hopeful that he can do something more than this?? he's not even paying attention to all the glitter anymore. ]

I'm a firebender. There's no way I'm stuck with something as stupid as this.

[ he's going to take a moment, sorry yuri, to try again. and then...

welp. he's going to make another glitter bomb out of himself again. some of it might even get on you, too. ]

[unendured]

[ Mind your manners, Mako?? Holy McFuck. ]

A firebender? [ That's the first she's hearing this, but she assumes that whatever ability he held before this wasn't being a prop for a Ke$ha music video. ] It doesn't look like we have much of a choice. Maybe there's something blocking it out?

[ Which seems reasonable, but she's yet to touch anyone so she doesn't know if her own "powers" are in tact. ]

[torching]

[ he's a dumb boy please excuse him ]

...I'm guessing you're not from Republic City either, huh? [ he's starting to realize that there are people here from different places, different worlds. he doesn't know how it's all possible, but right now? he's got more important things to worry about. like this. ]

Maybe. I don't know. I'm supposed to be able to use fire, but apparently someone messed with that and now there's glitter everywhere.

[ god, he definitely got some on yuri, didn't he? mako looks over at her, finally, and then notices some of the mess he's made. ] Sorry 'bout that.

[unendured]

[ She shakes her head, completely unaware but assuming that must be where he's from. ]

... Sorry if you don't want to hear this, but it's a little funny.

[ While distant from emotions for the most part, Yuri was still evidently human to the core and in situations like these it's almost impossible to not find some comedic delight in them. Though it's difficult to tell if she's experiencing any real joy in this thanks to her expression remaining neutral.

Looking down at her own clothing she notices that there's some traces of glitter here and there. Some would say it's karma, but she thinks it's to be expected.

There's attempt to dust it off her shirt to no avail. ]

But you're familiar with this, right? Having powers, I mean. [ There's something comforting in knowing that there people like herself. Not completely, but knowing that they had something that wasn't typically considered "normal" in her own world. ] I haven't bothered to see what I might have, but... if it's not asking much, do you think you could look after me? [ No. No. Her heart vibrates against her rib cage and her brain says that it's a bad idea. ] No. Never mind. I— Forget I said anything.

[torching]

...Yeah. I noticed.

[ it's more than a little funny. it's pretty pathetic, honestly. this seriously can't be the "magic" that the card was referring to... or is it...? please don't tell him he's getting the short end of the stick.

disgruntled, mako nods. ] I've had those powers since I was born. They haven't been working since I got here, though--wherever "here" is.

[ and then he's about to agree to watch over her while she tests her powers out--is that what she meant? and then she takes it back, and mako's confused. why are girls so hard to understand? ] What? I mean, it's fine. I've got nothing else to do, anyway.

[unendured]

[ That's right. They don't even have a name for this place, and yet here they are with magical powers and a signet implanted inside them.

Honestly she's exhausted and ready to go sleep, but then he agrees on helping her and it almost sounds too good to be true. She pauses, staring awkwardly, and then realizes that time is still A Thing. ]

Okay. [ She nods her head, as if buying herself time. A part of her wants to track back and stop herself, but she's also reminded of Hisoka and her endless support; telling herself to push on, she needs to learn to figure this all out. ] But I honestly have no idea what it is or how to awaken it, do you have any suggestions?

[torching]

[ he doesn't really get why this girl's so worried--maybe she's just paranoid or something. he doesn't blame her. he's been there before...still is, sometimes. it's in him to jump to conclusions, too, so he just lets her think about it, however awkward it is.

okay. so we're doing this. it's fine. ]

Well... I just thought about how I would channel my firebending, and then this...glitter thing...kind of just happened.

[ yeah...helpful. ] I guess it takes a lot of concentrating on the flow of energy, if that makes sense.

[unendured]

[ Gold star for Mako trying his best.

The explanation doesn't help much, but she nods her head none-the-less. ]

What you were doing earlier [ she saw those kung fu fighting moves boi ] was that part of it?

[torching]

[ ...oh. she saw that too? embarrassing. mako clears his throat. ]

Oh, uh...yeah, sort of. That was just. Me trying to see if I could firebend again.

[ he shakes his head. ] You could probably get something to work without all of that, though.

[unendured]

[ She doesn't know whether to reassure or praise him, because that's a skill she could never see herself executing. ]

Like...

[ She waves her hand, bringing it across her face and back down to her side. Fingers wiggling as if to give the illusion of waves.






This is her attempt at doing magic, okay? And when nothing happens she spends a solid five seconds in silence before she glancing to the side. ]

Hm. [ I actually thought that'd work, is accidentally sent through telepathy and making matters worse. ] Maybe a little more effort?

[torching]

...

[ it. looks just a little funny........mako's sort of sideeying her a bit. that's... ]

Did you concentrate enough? The note said something about feeling the instinct for it.

[ well, then again, if she's new to this? he can't exactly blame her. ] Have you had powers before?

[unendured]

Probably not. [ Spoken honestly, but when the second question comes through that's when she hesitates.

Her "powers" are something she wishes to conceal from others, especially strangers, so her initial intentions are to lie. Far too many cons that make the pros of her shadow reading easy to overlook. ] I... [ Again she remembers Hisoka's words, the positive impact they've made on her life, and is reminded that this sixth sense of hers has helped people. And while she hasn't felt the presence of a spirit since arriving that doesn't mean that it has miraculously vanished. So she must embrace it. Accept it. ] I do. But sometimes it works through concentrating, while other times it just comes naturally.

... Can I see your hand?

[torching]

[ he watches as she hesitates, and mako feels kind of awkward, like he asked something he shouldn't have. but he waits for her to finish, and if she wants to tell him, that's her prerogative and he won't question it.

so she won't tell him what her power is. that's fine. he just wanted to see if she knew at least, somewhat, about what he was talking about. ]

So just think of it like that. Think of it as if you're trying to use your powers.

...My hand? Uhh, okay...? [ he'll just. awkwardly hold it out ]

[unendured]

[ Welcome to The Awkward Club where the current members are President Yuri Kozukata and Vice President Mako. Sign up today and get a free, long pause before a warm welcome! ]

My powers sometimes allow me to see into the past. [ And more, but she'll save that interesting little discussion for later. ] I don't... pick and choose what, though, or how much I'll see, but if I concentrate enough then it should happen. Um...

If you're scared then just... pull back.

[ And she leaves that option up to him, bringing her hand forward to hold his. ]