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

[SURPRISE, just what you always wanted right, Dirk? Still, the hammer's weight doesn't seem to bother him for whatever reason and the boars are temporarily dispersed. That's good enough for John, who sort of just shrugs at the thanks.]

Sure. [Anything for his bro's...bro? Man. It sort of bums him out to think about the fact that everyone's dead (thanks to not meeting up with the other two Betas just yet) but he ignores it. Even if he doesn't know him, Dirk is someone he recognizes and that's enough for him right now.] I'm not sure it is really invading when I don't remember how we got here in the first place. Do you? [He's already shifting his weight from foot to foot like he's going to keep walking, but he's also not about to leave Dirk here in case there are more boars lingering around.]

Not at all. Last thing I remember was, uh...

[He glances at John.]

Our conversation.

[He takes the cue and starts walking too, his sword uneasy in his hand. He prefers to have it in his dex, dammit???]

[So...they walk. He isn't sure what he wants to say next because he remembers that. He remembers seeing Dirk, hearing what he said before he disappeared into a field of glitchy artifacts, and he recalls the events not long after that. The Vrillyhoo leans against his shoulder as he holds it up, finding his balance carefully while they head further away (or into?) the forest.]

I remember a little after that. [A beat.] I, uh, found Roxy. But I do not think she is here. We separated. That's the last thing I remember. [Leaving out a whole lot of other details but you know what, Roxy seemed to know the guy.] It's Dirk, right?

—Roxy was alive? Was she hurt? [He's startled obviously, remembering only a moment later that John actually asked him something. He tries to bring himself back down to calm.] Yeah. And you're John.

[There's a nod because yes, he's John. At least that part he's certain of even if everything else is a big giant ball of "what the fuck." It's easier to be on the lookout for boars, though on occasion he seems to start wandering for some of the felt bags before deciding that no, he doesn't want to open that one. Maybe a different one will do.]

She's okay. [It's quick to reassure because he remembers what Roxy had said to him then. "He is like my only friend who isn't dead yet."] She's okay, she was going to go somewhere and I had a mission, too. But she is alive. ["We're going to fix things" goes unsaid. It's a little awkward now, he thinks, looking at Dirk and walking along knowing the things he knows.]

You are not the one who failed. I'm just saying. [Just. Again, to reassure. He won't elaborate on that, but maybe that will help? Haha oh boy, how do you even deal with this sort of thing, and why does he know so many blondes who like disappearing into voids?]

[Good try, John. You made an effort. Dirk is relieved to hear Roxy is okay but now kinda awkward about trying to die?

"You are not the one who failed." God. There's something wrong with that family, the way they are so damn good and see the best in people who do not deserve it. Jake and Jane are like that too. Hell, Roxy is. The one there's something wrong with is him.

He hopes boars try to kill them.]

It's alright. It isn't really relevant when this is what we're dealing with.

[HA HA YEAH RIGHT he thinks about it constantly]

[Fuck off, Dirk, he already lost two Strilondes via suicide mission? He doesn't need a third? He can't get a sense of what Dirk might be thinking and all he can really do is take him for his word. He doesn't know Dirk and doesn't think to press, doesn't think that maybe Dirk's self-loathing is the size of Jupiter.

All he can really do is keep his head up and try to make the most of this even though he. Straight-up watched Dirk fly off.]

I guess so. [Not that he's going to forget it because yeah, they fucked up. He fucked up? How is he supposed to go back and fix things now if he doesn't even know where they are?] But that would also imply we know what we are dealing with, and besides "angry boars" I've got nothing. [...ugh.] This kinda sucks.

[The size of Jupiter? You are like a little baby. Watch this.

Anyway Dirk keeps up that chill attitude but. Ugh.]

That's the point of recon. We look around, we try to learn about the place we're in and whatever has been left behind. We can decide what to do once we have enough information.

[Striders are definitely going to be the end of him, text it. But he looks briefly annoyed at the explanation even as he keeps up the pace with Dirk.]

I know what recon does, but it is not something we've had to do recently in our game. [Not exactly, anyway. Finally though it's hard to resist and he's scuttling over to one of the felt bags, setting his hammer down to pry it open with nimble fingers and pull out...a plastic whistle. Why in the fuck is this here?]

The first thing I think I have learned about this place is that these bags are weird.

Important intel. I'll report back to the NSA in an encrypted code.

[Dead pan but also. He wants to see it? He looks at it in curiosity.]]

Thanks for that. [He's used to this? But at the same time he recognizes that curiosity and instead of snarking back or anything he holds up the whistle in his hand for Dirk to take.] Here. Might be important to examine for an accurate report.

[For kicks, it's probably also an orange plastic whistle. Have fun.]

The brass would want us to test it out.

[NSA may or may not have brass. This doesn't matter.

What matters is Dirk blows the whistle.]

Then there is no need to disappoint the brass. [He says, as if he knows wtf that means. But Dirk's blowing the whistle and John laughs instead, raising his eyebrows a bit.]

Sweet, it works! [Well duh? He's going to leave Dirk with his whistle and start looking for another bag he wants to open.] You think the rest of these have anything useful? Carrying everything is going to be a pain, but if things are small it shouldn't be so bad.

I'm seriously resenting the lack of anything resembling a sylladex.

[In John's presence, Dirk's accent isn't as strong. He hasn't spent enough time around Dave for it to start warping badly. The pocket just gets held roughly in his hand as he goes along.]

Choose between door number one, two, or three. [It's a game show!]

I am, too. Believe me. [But even so he's taking things in stride for the moment. John likely isn't to notice until it's too late so Dirk is safe from any kind of questions about an accent. Instead, he appears interested in this new proposition and he's content to play along.]

Three. No one ever picks door number one.

You could be the rule-breaker, but now you're just one of the crowd.

[Who knows if that was ironic or not, but he opens the third bag and tosses the contents to John without looking.]

I think most people would pick door number two since it is in the middle. [Just saying. But he catches whatever Dirk is throwing to him and it's definitely a pack of blue raspberry Gushers. He looks at the candy in his hands, having a somewhat serious debate with himself before groaning softly and tossing them back at Dirk.]

What number would you pick then? [Since he's eyeing three bags now.]

[He catches the gushers.]

I'd open all the doors and dismantle the gameshow system that pretends at opportunity for the disenfranchised but merely makes exploitable spectacle out of misfortune and the illusion of prosperity.

[Rose's father.]

Do you hate 'em too?

[Gushers, he means.]

[Oh dear god why. Like okay obviously with the way that ectobiology goes he knows that all of the Strilondes are related, and he has spoken to Roxy enough to get the sense that she and Dave are more similar than he'd thought. So really, it should have been immediately obvious that Dirk and Rose would be the wordy, eloquent ones.]

That is a very elaborate analysis of a hypothetical situation, dude. [But okay.] I don't hate them, but I've lost taste for them. [Because he hates them and he hates Betty Crocker and hasn't come to the realization that there are bigger problems yet. But he's trying to play it cool? Dirk seems cool? (He has yet to realize that Dirk is not cool.) As such, he's opening another pouch, pulling out a fork and knife set.] Do you think these things are leading us any closer to where we need to go? Or are we being led away?

I'll try to truncate my hypothetical-situation analyses.

[that's a fucking lie

He glosses over the Gusher thing since it's too ambiguous to deal with, not realizing John is trying to pretend to be cool, and looks at the cutlery set. Fancy.]

I have no idea about where we need to go, but I'm reminded of trails of bait.

[There's a self-satisfied nod like he's solved everything but it doesn't last long when Dirk brings up that point.]

Like those stories where people follow trails of bread crumbs? That would mean someone purposefully set these up for us. [The cutlery goes back in the bag and he's just taking the bag with him. Oh well.] That is a lot of time spent on that.

The alternative is the game set this up. Which I'd buy, because it seems entirely like the kind of bullshit stunt Sburb likes to pull, but I'm not convinced we're anywhere within the structure of the game at the moment.

The only reason I am not convinced Sburb is involved is because none of our usual powers works anymore. Have you tried flying yet?

I tried. I failed.

I also failed at flashsteppin'.

[It's the BIGGEST INSULT]

[Oh. That is unfortunate and there is a sympathetic frown.]

I am not surprised you can do that, too. But that's not even part of your aspect or anything is it? Why would that stop working?

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