spellgrinders | ( TDM

Entry tags:

!tdm,
npc: brie

( TDM | #1 )

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?

here

its own perils.

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?

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.

Claim your hut, please!

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ she will make john a cool ring later probably. she's going to bling out her friends as stupidly as possible. still not saying anything. ]

[Rose why!! You could at least help him? But no instead he's just staring at Dave in disbelief before he rolls his eyes.]

Oh my god. [DAVE!!!] Dude, I thought you were actually dead until about ten minutes ago and that is what you are worried about? They're shades. I didn't even think you would seriously wear them, let alone for this many years. [But okay. Dave is genuinely upset so he offers a smile?] It's okay. Maybe they're still in the woods somewhere. We can look later. All three of us. [Because he doesn't really feel right separating from them just yet.] Wait, does that mean that you drew those? [A gesture to Dave's face.]

[ well. his shoulders slump a little in relief, although his expression doesn't change much? because. JOHN, THE SHADES MATTER? THEY WERE THE BEST PRESENT HE EVER GOT. they were important. and he LOST THEM. ]

Yeah. I mean, yeah, we can look later. And yeah, I did. [ they look suspiciously well made though. ] ...Someone else helped me make them less shitty after the fact.

[ everyone here knows dave can't fucking draw ]

[ sorry john she can't help you. ]

You did quite well on them, Dave, help or no. [ though she imagined dave's original drawing was probably Shitty ] When we find your real ones, perhaps I can make you a sunglasses case that you can never lose, or something equally absurd.

[He somehow reaches behind Rose since she's still between them to gently push on Dave's shoulder. It's okay, seriously. But at the same time he's grinning at Rose because the idea actually isn't that bad? He's turned enough to scoot a touch closer to Rose as well. How unfortunate that he's affectionate with his friends.]

If you can knit magic into stuff, I do not see why not. There's a lot you could do with that. You're talented with your needles. [And the problem is he's pretty sincere about that, too. He's going to regret asking this, probably, but:] You guys have met a lot of people, too? Who have you met so far? [Who helped make the fake Stiller Shades less shitty? Deets. He needs them.]

[ dave bats at john from around rose, careful not to knock into her, though after that he lets his arm just drop around her shoulders to pull her into his side. it's a little more clingy than he is usually with her (like. he's CLINGY, but not physically so as often?) but the idea of rose dying still unsettles him. his sword, for the record, is pointed away from rose and john so they can't cut themselves on it. ]

My teen Bro. A bunch of other people not from home. Oh, he said that Jade's teen grandpa is here too, though.

[ if he needs the deets on the shades he will apparently have to ask? ]

[ why are her best bros all clingy wtf. rose just lets herself be affectionated at. ]

Dirk and Jake. I spoke with him. He's... I think you'll get along with him, John. [ he seemed a little dim and didn't wear pants. ] And I spoke with Dirk, as well. He was interesting.

[ rose will help john, however and ] Was it Dirk that helped you with the sunglasses, Dave?

[Sorry about your choice in friends, Rose. He tries his best not to react to the name "Dirk" because he's definitely met him already (for a second time) and instead focuses on the name Jake. It's then that he stops, frowning in thought.]

I think I already did. [Yeah. Okay. This makes sense. But he's not addressing the Dirk and Jake thing yet since yeah, he had his own conversations with the two of them and he's more interested in hearing how the other two are faring. Thanks for the assist, Rose. He'll also follow up with his own question for after that.] How'd he help?

[ no, hold on. john just said something Stupid. ]

...Did you meet someone who looks basically exactly like you and not realize who he was.

[ THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN JOHN'S QUESTION, BECAUSE THAT SOUNDED NOT TOTALLY SURE? ]

[ ok dave's right, hold the phone on dave's deets john what ]

John. Oh my god.

[ ??? ]

That's not what I said! [Like. Not exactly. Not in so many words? But he's pouting a little because ugh what the fuck, don't tagteam him on this!] When we were talking I did not exactly think of that as being a very important thing? Sure, okay, we sort of look alike but he had a pile of crabs and I was hungry and we were talking about other things that did not lead me to think I had to suspect he was Jade's teen grandpa.

Yeah, okay, but dude. Was he wearin' god tier pajamas or no.

[ YOU'RE NOT GETTING OUT OF THIS ONE, JOHN? ]

'Cause that would be a pretty strong "hmmm!" clue, my man.

They're literally emblazoned with our aspects.

[ john oh my god ]

And you do look freakishly alike, more so than most of us seem to? [ like. rose and dave share features with roxy and dirk, but only some BUT JAKE AND JOHN THO ]

We do not look freakishly alike. I will admit we do share similarities like our hair but his eyes are green and mine are not. There. See? Not freakishly alike. [This is absolutely a losing battle. He definitely looks like Jake and vice versa.] And...maybe. I did not really note what he was wearing. But I think he was wearing a yellow hood...?

[...uggggggggh.] I cannot believe this.

Edited 2017-06-18 09:24 (UTC)

I will admit you have nicer eyes but yeah dude I literally called him a John lookin' guy the one time we saw him before the whole clusterfuck?

[ HE'S VERY JOHN-LOOKING????? ]

I can't believe you made it through a conversation without realizin' you were related. Holy shit.

[ excuse dave as he. laughs. ]

I'm less surprised he didn't recognize you, at least.

[ but still holy shit she forgot john could be so. john. ]

At least now you know for if or when you run into him later. [ l o r d. but then, to dave. ] Anyway, we were discussing who helped you with your glasses?

[On the one hand, thanks Dave. On the other hand, he's starting to really wonder how that happened but it sure was a thing.]

Man, I told you, it wasn't on my mind! [But he's not exactly stopping Dave from laughing anyway.] I'll remember for next time. But Rose is right, that was a thing we were discussing instead.

[Thanks Rose, u da best.]

It was my teen Bro, yeah. He can like...destroy shit he can conceptualize, or somethin', and ergo I just had him destroy the shitty out of my drawin'.

[ dirk's a weird topic but he says it fairly casually and without any apparent issue? ]

[ you were drowning, john ]

That's... an interesting use of that power.

[ these powers are fascinating and she wants to Understand them ]

[He's at least noticed that Dave keeps referring to Dirk as teen Bro, and while he's not entirely sure (Dirk doesn't seem as lame and strange as what John imagined Bro is like) he lets it slide. Like Rose, he wants to get a better idea of what's going on but for different reasons.]

So he took a power that sounds pretty bad and made it do something good. That is impressive. Your shades almost look totally authentic. That probably means ours can do a lot more than we are thinking, too.

Dirk was upset it was only destructive, I think, but you know. Flip things on the side and there's always another option.

[ so. dave advised him to cheat, basically. thanks dave. ]

If you want my opinion, we could probably do the most interestin' shit workin' in tandem.

[ combine rose's magic knitting and dave's (occasionally terrible) item creation into something new? ]

One would think.

[ though even gamebreaker rose here is just like I will. knit stuff. that does stuff. and hasn't gotten beyond it yet. ]

As in, as a collaboration? I suppose we could, but what sort of horrors could be created combining magic knitwork with whatever you draw?

[ she's being rhetorical and genuinely asking at the same time. ]

One would hope. [He likes options. He feels better having options. Still, Dave brings up an interesting point and he grins a little before holding up both hands like he's waiting for his friends to put items in his palms.]

That's a great idea though. We should definitely try it out and see what we can do. I am not sure there is a size limit on what I can combine, so that helps. Okay, what is the first thing you would want to draw, and what would you knit for it once it's created? [This is going to be a nightmare, isn't it.]

Rose can knit a ring pretty fast. So...eh, let's wing it. Sister dearest, you don't tell me what you're doin' and I won't tell you what I am.

[ he drags a capped marker out of his pocket and starts to doodle in the sand. ]

... All right, why not.

[ she will turn her back to boys so she can use the yarn dave made her earlier to knit... a mystery!! john is allowed to peek but dave is not. ]

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