songerein | { test drive #03

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{ test drive #03 - january 2021 }

✵ TEST DRIVE MEME: JANUARY ✵
IMPORTANT! While anyone is welcome to participate in the TDM, our applications are closed to current players only. Our next public cycle won't be until March. Thus this TDM is an abbreviated version compared to our usual ones.

A reminder that our Test Drive Memes double as an Intro Log and threads can be carried over in-game. They are also required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any TDM related questions here. Reserves are open and Applications open on January 1st for current players only. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle won't be until March.

I. WELCOME TO SONGEREIN

Upon "arriving" into Songerein, everyone is understandably confused. The first thought would be they must be in a dream, which makes sense since the last thing they might remember doing is falling asleep or losing some form of consciousness or awareness before opening their eyes and finding themselves in the Plaza of some strange town they've never seen before. But there are a lot of other people around, some that may look familiar but others so strange that it would be impossible for their own imagination to dream up. And they're all just as confused. Fortunately, a red tapir-like creature appears and introduces itself as Solei, one of the "keepers" of this place. It offers some explanation before letting everyone explore their new "home." [Reminder: Other people aside from the characters will also appear to act as filler NPCs so keep in mind that the initial group is at least double the size. Players are also free to be creative and come up with any kind of creature or animal their characters might encounter. The only limitations are they must be small to medium in size and not be overly aggressive as the creatures within the town are mostly passive, just wary of the new arrivals.]

A. Magic Journals. Everyone will find a journal stylized just for them on their person somewhere and it's the primary means of communication with everyone. The only limitation is that it's text only, but images can be magically imprinted on the page from the writer's mind. Might as well give it a whirl and see who all is out there.

B. Dreamotion Abilities. Although everyone maintains most of their original abilities while in Songerein, they are also capable of using special abilities based on dreamotion energy. From having their emotions affecting the environment to utilizing new abilities entirely, it's probably something that they should start familiarizing fairly quickly. Especially since all the emotional surprise and confusion may already be affecting things, such as random glass shattering or cracks forming at one's feet.

C. Exploring Town. The town of Reverein is small but still sizable, so walking around and to see what all there is might be a good idea. The town is empty of any other people and it's relatively safe aside from most of the buildings looking like they're about to collapse in on itself, but there are a few small fae and small wild critters who have made a few nests so just watch your step—or head. Some could venture out to the farmlands and beyond...but anyone who gets too close to the Wildlands will encounter a tapir who will tell them to go back for now. Be warned if anyone tries to ignore and push past them.

D. Dreambucks Cafe. As a way to welcome their new inhabitants as well as give them a nice, cool refreshment after all the work they will be doing, the tapirs will call everyone's attention to a certain cafe back at the Plaza. Called Dreambucks, it's a quaint little cafe staffed by friendly tea fairies and primarily serves tea and small cakes. Their teas and foods are quite special as the flavor will influence one's emotions and dreams—but in a good way! There are no harmful side effects and they are usually positive. Bolstering one's spirit; calming or relaxing nerves. The tea fairies want everyone to enjoy their time. Anyone can pick whichever table they want to take a break and meet some people. Or take a peek at what someone might be dreaming thanks to the teas.

There are three different types of teas available:

Raspberry Sparkler Tea. A sip of this will immediately make anyone feel lighter and more hopeful, with an additional effect of causing the drinker to sparkle as a result from those happier feelings.

Apple Cider. A drink filled with energetic cheer that will encourage drinkers to get out there and celebrate whatever is on their mind. There are milder versions available, so the range of celebratory cheer can vary.

Overcast Earl Grey. A more contemplative flavor, this tea is recommended for those who may have troubles or past mistakes weighing them down. A cup of this tea will help clear the mind to allow them to come to terms and begin to accept things, allowing them to take that needed step forward.

Although it doesn't always happen, sometimes the tea will be a strong enough influence that it will make the drinker daydream for a bit. Anyone nearby may notice their dream crystal lantern flicker and catch a brief glimpse of the daydream on it. Or perhaps those who want to try out their dream crystal lanterns are deliberately trying to see if their dreams are captured. Only daydreams influenced by the tea can be caught and even then it's just a brief glimpse, but it's still an interesting way to see how the dream crystal lanterns work.

Note: There is no currency in the world and everything served is free at this time. However it might not be immediately obvious and the fairies won't mind if customers repay in some way, be it helping out via cleaning and serving, giving gifts such as flowers or fruits, or something else.

II. LOCAL PROMPTS

Ugly sweaters are still being distributed and forced upon everyone during this time, though at a less frequent rate.

A. Chestnuts Exploding on an Open Fire. With Christmas festivities winding down and the New Year coming up, residents are out taking on a more relaxed form of festive cheer. Small bonfires are constructed around town, with easy to roast snacks distributed to everyone. Marshmallows, s'mores, fish, meat, and whatever else can be used or brought. One particular treat that everyone is looking forward to are special chestnuts left by the Christmas Ents who passed through earlier in the month. There is more than enough to go around and when roasted they bring a warm, nostalgic taste that is sure to bring a smile to even the grumpiest scrooge. However, there are a few reddish brown colored chestnuts that were accidentally added into the many baskets. At first glance they don't seem that strange, just a slightly different color. But once they hit the open fire and in range of any level of excited cheer, the chestnuts start to crackle and explode like fireworks! And when one sets off, others follow. Chaos is quick to grow, which will only exacerbate the situation, so the 1) chestnuts need to be removed and resorted; 2) affected bonfires doused and rebuilt; 3) calm must be spread to help rebuild the festive cheer. Perhaps cooking the chestnuts in a calmer environment will be better.

B. Ugly Sweaters' Revenge. It's almost the end of December but ugly sweaters are still "in style," with everyone receiving new ones at least once a week if not more. But those who try to destroy them with malicious intent or throw them away will find retribution coming early. In the dead of night, all the discarded sweaters start to unravel and link together, winding and spinning until a giant, ten foot ball of yarn is rolling through the streets of Songerein. It seems to move with its own will and deliberately goes after those who scorned them to roll over and ensnare them into the ball to grow larger. However, although the ball has clear targets, it's a ball of yarn. Unintended casualties get caught up into the vengeful ball. So it's either help rescue or be rescued in this bizarre morning!

C. Gumdrops. The gumdrops are still roaming around, trying to take every last bit of fluff, love, and fight they can get. They are ready to snare any two people they think will fit their needs and will make sure the pair sticks together until the gumdrop is satisfied. White gumdrops seek fluffy emotions, pinkish reds prefer love and kisses, and bright red ones seek fighting spirit instead. For more information refer to the notes.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ferran really, really hates fighting. So despite the spark of the urge in the back of his mind and the momentary sharpness to his gaze when he sees the machine move to destroy his work again, he doesn't move. He simply sighs.]

Great scientific method. Let's just tear apart the town, that'll definitely get us somewhere and not undo a lot of essential hard work.

[Sarcasm aside, though, however annoyed he may be by the man...]

I find creation more interesting, actually. Building things. You can obviously appreciate good engineering, right?

[If the man is a scientist, he probably had a hand in those limbs he's wielding. Ferran has to try to switch tactics if he wants to get through to whatever reasonable person might be under the garbage.]

[Oop, he was not stopped. The tentacle successfully grabs hold of the lamp post and gives it a good tug. The pavement surrounding it cracks, but the post doesn't come loose just yet. The notion of destruction causing actual damage to a dream world is laughable to him. That's not how dreams work. None of this is how dreams work, and so, he has no idea what's actually going on.

Still, that last sentiment speaks to him and gets him to simmer down a bit. The claw doesn't release the post, but it does stop pulling.]

Naturally. So long as this engineering serves a purpose, that is. Progress is the inventor's ideal.

[~~oh so you're an oneirologist now are you??~~

Seeing that he might have struck a chord with the question, Ferran decides to pursue it further. Perhaps the post is a little bent out of shape at this point, but preventing any more destruction is something worthwhile to work towards. A conversation is usually a good start to that sort of thing...]

Alright, then—how do you define progress? In the broadest terms.

[He's got a point he's getting to, but he wants to see what this man's perspective is.]

[~~He doesn't even know the meaning of that word!~~

The barrage of questions is beginning to frustrate him a little bit. What's this guy trying to do? It's a waste of time. The claw's grip tightens around the post, crunching it.]

Advancement. Improvement. [He scoffs.] What about it?

[~~Time to learn about dreams, science man!!~~

Ferran doesn't seem any more intimidated by the standoffish response or the further destruction of the new post than before. He simply folds his arms.]

That's it? No "advancement of civilization" or "improvement of human lives" or anything? Just making things more efficient for the sake of it.

[He too can fold his arms and look unimpressed!] I should think the civilization aspect of it is implied.

[Though... His old self would've stressed that notion in his words, wouldn't he? His current self doesn't waste energy on that sort of thing, because he doesn't quite care about it anymore. It's a side-effect, if anything.]

[Okay, they're getting somewhere. Hopefully. ...Maybe.

He gestures at the square that Otto has made a mess of.]

So wouldn't you consider things like maintaining infrastructure to be an important part of that?

[Oh, nice try. His lips curl into a sneer again.]

Perhaps. But this isn't my civilization, now is it? This is just some rubbish dream world. It stands to reason that when I wake up- when any of us wake up, the damage done here will be inconsequential.

[Nevermind that he also wrecks infrastructure while awake in his own civilization.]

[He shakes his head. A rubbish dream world, maybe—but they're living in it.]

But it is yours now. Just like all the rest of us. Maybe we won't stay, but that doesn't mean we won't have left a mark.

[With his future almost certainly an early end, Ferran intends to cling to every moment of the present he has. It means something, to be here.]

Until then, we have to live here for however long this dream self thing lasts. Months, maybe years. And things have consequences here, just like everywhere else.

Really? Consequences?

[At last, the extended limb gives a good tug and not only does the lamp post get torn from the ground once more, it snaps clean in half. The two portions fall to the ground with a clatter.]

When you can just wave a hand to repair any damage, how consequential are anyone's actions?

[And that, really, is the base question he's currently gauging. He's still not entirely convinced this place is real and if so, to what degree anything done here even matters. If he really is just some sort of copy caught in a make-believe world, theoretically he could just destroy anything and everything around himself and it wouldn't change a thing. His real self would still be living his own life and accomplishing what he set out to do.]

[Ferran holds back a sigh as the pieces thunk down, the damage officially done. Yeah, alright. The display probably didn't help his argument, as convenient as his magic can be.]

I can only "wave a hand" so many times—and only if there are still working parts to copy. And that much is a lot more than most people around here can manage, if I've been keeping up with them.

[While people have been struggling with dreamotion, he's been using his powers from home more than a year now. His magic might come with a lot more limitations in comparison, but it comes to him easily now—enough that it looks effortless from the outside.]

So. Is this really the only way to get your answers?

Perhaps not the only way, but it's certainly been... illuminating.

[Because it's a lamp post. Geddit? (Sorry, he's a Spider-Man villain, he can't not do a bad pun every so often.) In the end, the bottom line is that this person wants to keep this town hospitable, with functional basic necessities. Which makes sense, Otto supposes, but that doesn't mean he'll play by the rules.]

If most can't do what you did, perhaps this may be considered good practice for them as well.

[Ferran's posture slumps visibly at the pun—and perhaps that's a satisfying reaction for the scientist. Like, he gets it... he's probably even done it himself before... but come on, man.]

Don't pretend like you're doing everybody a big favor. You're just making a mess and you know it.

[He quirks a brow at that first bit, because wow, it's been a while since he last did anyone a favor, let alone tried to take credit for such a thing. One of the tentacles leans over his shoulder to get right beside his face and he turns his head to look at it, nodding.]

Mmh, that's right. He is putting words in my mouth, isn't he? [That remark was absolutely directed at the tentacle. He turns his attention back to Ferran immediately after.] I assumed most living in this place would have a 'glass half-full' disposition. If you'd prefer to see a mess, then it's a mess.

[Ferran squints, looking between Otto and the claw he's conversing with. It's equally likely that this guy is putting on a show or that he is actually speaking to some mechanical arms that have a mind of their own—and he doesn't know which is worse. Either way, the newcomer apparently has no intentions of owning up to what he's doing, which is exasperating.]

... It's almost like people have different personalities and none of us actually chose to come here. [... probably. Anyway.] You're not the only destructive type to show up, either.

[Otto would think that most people would be delighted at this opportunity to escape reality and spend their time in a magical dream world. Not him, though. He has responsibilities back home, and the notion his 'real self' is still acting independently, continuing what was started, does nothing to settle him.]

Oh, delightful. Perhaps we'll all get together and have a destructive tea party. [Sarcasm. Truly the superior weapon for superior people who have no shortcomings whatsoever.] Now, are you quite done with your attempt to scold me?

[Ferran folds his arms as if to make a point, along with his almost lighthearted proclamation:]

Nope.

[He sees your sarcasm and raises you some classic teenage stubbornness, along with his own special brand of persistence.]

I'll be done when you're done breaking things. So until then, you can count on me to be a pain in your side.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ test drive #03 - january 2021 }

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