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

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[ he snorts with laughter at "double dog dare" because rose. what the fuck, that's a terrible joke. dave drops his forehead to rose's shoulder and just. clings, mostly, but no one else is around so no one else ever has to know if he lets himself just fold for a few minutes here. ]

I woke up without 'em on and couldn't find them anywhere. Just my sword, and I can't even put that in my 'dex right now.

[ it's TERRIBLE, he actually has to CARRY THINGS ]

[ it was sitting right there and had to be made, sorry. rose lets him cling. it's nice, to not be alone while maybe dead. ]

Odd. And odder still that our sylladexes seem to have ceased functionality. I only have my needles.

[ carrying things is the worst thing that's happened to them today. ]

[ there is no one else he would rather be maybe dead with. ]

At least you have them. Can you not, like. See anythin'? Because I sure as fuck can't do time shit.

[ d'aww

rose looks up at the sky, contemplative. this isn't the first try she's made at seeing, but. it's a little unnerving each time it fails. ]

Nothing. Which is annoying, as I'd quite like to get a glimpse at what lies ahead in this afterlife.

[ rose looking up jostles dave a little and he takes his head off her shoulder and watches as she tries to see. ]

So...who all did you see bite the dust?

[ rewatches game over for the fifth time today ]

Karkat. That stupid clown. Kanaya. [ there's a bit of a hitch in her voice there. ] Terezi was stabbed, but I'm not sure if she died or not. The lake of lava hindered me from seeing the rest and that's when I launched a failed attack. You?

[ oh, jesus fuck. okay, he hadn't broken the hug but this time he like, pulls her closer, left hand going up to sort of put a hand on top of her head? as you do? when you're comforting someone. he dropped his sword a bit ago (what the fuck ever, rose takes priority) and just runs a hand through his sister's hair. ]

Jade. [ she's the only one he really saw. he remembers seeing karkat and kanaya briefly beforehand, so -

so, well, shit. ] Went down tryin' to get her back to John's mom for revival.

[ for a moment, rose almost cries. a tear or two leaks free. she still can't believe she saw kanaya incinerated and couldn't at least avenge her. she pulls herself together, even if she hugs her brother a little harder. ]

Well, fuck. [ her voice is muffled into his shoulder. or below it, she's TOO SHORT DAMN IT. she can guess that dave did not manage to get jade to john's mom for revival. ] Perhaps we'll run into her here, and maybe the others.

[ it stands to reason that if the two of them are here, anyone else who died should be too. right? ]

[ it's okay. if rose falls apart for a minute or two, dave's never going to tell a soul. she can cry or not cry, he just kind of keeps hugging her as best he knows how. which is semi awkwardly but he's trying and just not letting go for the moment. ]

Maybe. I mean...if everyone else died, then. They should be around somewhere. Even if the usual death rules do not seem to be workin'.

[ either way: ]

You're here with me. That's better by far than the alternative, I think.

[ she's fallen apart enough recently, she thinks. she's tired of it. ]

It's vastly better than being alone.

[ that would?? suck?? she's not sure what she would do if she were alone. maybe wander into the forest and become a witch in a hut or something stupid like that. ]

Any place without you in it is as good as that.

[ this is the kid who would rather take a suicide mission than live in a world without rose lalonde. or just die with her, if it came to that? ]

But you're here, so that's okay. I've only seen...some people.

[ dave have you considered: chilling. ]

Strangers, yes? It's been quite a while since we've seen actual strangers, I think. My social skills elude me.

[ rose literally STOLE A SUICIDE MISSION SO HE'D STAY ALIVE, she cannot talk about chill. ]

Yeah. I saw...other people, too. [ elaborating: ] My teen Bro is around here somewhere.

[ wow that was three years ago let it go.

she quirks an eyebrow. into his shoulder still I guess?? ] Oh? Well, that's a start. Have you spoken with him?

Yeah. We're meetin' up again later. Haven't seen our wayward teen mom as of yet, but.

[ HAHAHA HE DOESN'T want to talk about bro even though he brought him up. god. ]

...I think we may need to go look around and see who the fuck ended up here, because while there seem to be strangers, some of us seem to be here, too.

Let me know if you do. I'd... like to see her again.

[ even if their .2 second talk was uh. awkward, in retrospect. ]

That sounds like a good idea. We'll cover more ground if we split up, I would say.

Yeah, we will.

[ ...

to split up he has to stop hugging her like she's the only lifeline left in the world, though? ]

...

[ waits for him to let go? yet only half lets go herself. ]

Dave, unless you want to walk a three-legged race as we search, you have to let go of me.

[ what if he Doesn't, though???

but okay. he actually gives rose one last hug-squeeze (she's alive, she died but she's alive and warm and real and that's really great because dave doesn't at all like the idea of anything else) before reluctantly letting go. ]

Promise we'll meet up later?

[ then they will die hugging.

rose gives him a squeeze back. ]

I imagine we'll end up at the end of the felt bag road sooner or later.

Two hours tops and we meet at the end of the felt bag road if we haven't met up again already?

[ asking for her to stamp the plan with approval because rose is. in charge, in dave's opinion? ]

Deal. Though, do either of us have watches?

[ just. saying. ]

I suppose it doesn't matter. See you then.

We do not. I also can't tell the time anymore.

[ HE HATES IT ]

But I think we'll know when it gets that late, like. Probably? Take care and like, shout if you need backup. Although I think maybe we should say that for me instead.

Lovely.

[ IT SUCKS ]

Probably. And yes, so: take care and shout if you need backup.

You're the best knight in shinin' armor. Whatever would a guy do without you around, Lalonde?

[ but ok. he nods at her and will start off?

he will glance back like five times just 2 be sure she's still real SEE YOU LATER SIS ]

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grimdeity - 2017-06-18 09:36 (UTC) - Expand

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