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songerein2022-02-15 12:03 am
dreamposts) wrote in songerein2022-02-15 12:03 am
{ test drive #04 - march 2022 }
✵ TEST DRIVE MEME: MARCH ✵
A reminder that our Test Drive Memes double as an Intro Log and threads can be carried over in-game, which means all content is forward dated to the first week of the app month. 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 March 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle won't be until May.
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 new groups are 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 has become more populated over time, but it's still relatively empty with many buildings still unoccupied and some still in disrepair and about to collapse in on itself. 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 having someone more experienced may be wise.
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:
Strawberries and Cream Tea. A sweet and flavorful tea that can provide soft, friendly feelings or have one acting especially sweet towards a friend. Or perhaps even towards a stranger who seems to need a little sweetness in their life.
Black Pomegranate Tea. A few sips of this will invoke melancholy over past loves. However, it doesn't need to be people—it could be anything at all: people, places, things, interests.
Coffee with White Chocolate Raspberry Cream. These bold and strong flavors will cause one to perform grand acts of affection (romantic or platonic) for anyone they see.
Black Pomegranate Tea. A few sips of this will invoke melancholy over past loves. However, it doesn't need to be people—it could be anything at all: people, places, things, interests.
Coffee with White Chocolate Raspberry Cream. These bold and strong flavors will cause one to perform grand acts of affection (romantic or platonic) for anyone they see.
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
Although Valentine's may be over, there is still plenty of that "romance" in the air, especially with all the leftovers from the month. But it's not all hearts and rainbows.
A. Candy Roses. Candy roses are all the rage right now and once again confectioners are competing against each other in creating the best ones. This has led to many being handed out as samples. What makes them so special? The flavors will influence one's emotions on the positive, "loving" spectrum. However, some will have a softer, subtle effect while others may be more exaggerated.- Red. Red candy roses will induce ardent love towards the person within their vicinity. It causes them to immediately grab their hand and declare their love for all to hear.
- Pink. Pink candy roses will cause the eater to be filled with so much joy they start frolicking with flowers everywhere around them, to the point that flowers will appear in their food, drink, whatever they touch.
- White. White candy roses will cause the eater to be very honest about their feelings…about anything that comes to mind or they see. Positive or negative, they can only tell the truth. Some may be able to control it, but the impulse will be very strong.
- Purple. Purple candy roses are a mystery flavor that will have a random emotional effect on the eater. They could be joyous, they could be so overwhelmed with passion they become depressed, they could become angry and possessive…it's a toss up wildcard.
All effects will last from ten minutes to half an hour.
B. Orc Chocolate Sculptor. As if not to be outdone by the candy roses, an area around the Central Plaza has been cleared away for a large orc who performs and creates magnificent sculptures made from pure chocolate. From buildings to animals to people, to making replicas of real food, to making large and miniature models of Reverein's streets, this orc can do it all. And he is inviting others to join in. All the tools and chocolate are provided, and should anyone be successful in their creation, it has the chance of becoming animated through dreamotion energy. It could behave as a result of the sculptor's emotions, or someone could try to channel dreamotion energy to make it move. Of course, things can get messy…watch out for chocolate being flung from some kids who snuck in!C. Eris Arrows. No one knows where they came from, but winged, cherub-like creatures have appeared and are firing arrows at everyone. However, these have orange feathers and anyone struck by them will transform into a lindworm filled with anger and hate for the first thing they see. Clearly this isn't a good thing, and fortunately there are some love arrows still around that will help negate the effect. Otherwise, one will have to try and subdue them and push a lot of positive "love" dreamotion energy on them (can be platonic or romantic). It is also possible to take out the anti-cupids, but as they seem to be a form of noctaere, only dreamotion abilities will make significant damage to them. Similar to those turned into a lindworm, the love arows can also be used against them, as well as any other concentration of "love."
III. DREAMSCAPE TUTORIAL
To help everyone understand their dreamwalking abilities, the tapirs will ask anyone who is willing to gather around the Dream Swings in the Central Plaza. There anyone is invited to sit in the chairs or hammocks and focus on their dream crystal lanterns to enter a special dreamscape made just for them. Those watching might find the sight of everyone suddenly turning into a colorful ball of light and disappearing alarming, but that's just the normal process of entering a dream. When someone leaves the dream, they will briefly reappear as that light before returning to their original form. The theme for this dreamscape is Three Little Pigs in Candyland. For this dreamscape exercise, the tapirs have created a fascinating environment that is basically Candyland. It's a good thing this is all a dream so that anyone who has a sweet tooth can eat to their heart's content and not get a cavity. However, even if this is a dream made of candy, there are still some threats to the dreamwalkers…especially since they will be turned into either pigs or wolves. Free exploration is allowed, but there are a couple of "objectives" or "exercises" they should try to work on their dreamotion abilities. 
A. Three Little Pigs. As a fun twist to the dreamscape, dreamwalkers may be turned into anthropomorphic pigs. They can walk on their hind legs, use their forelegs as arms, speak, wear clothes if they feel comfortable about…but they are otherwise very much a pig and will not be able to transform out. They can add to their appearance, such as adding wings, horns, hair—anything that might help bring back some of their individual characteristic. They don't have to work together, but the main "plotline" of this story is to build houses to withstand the big bad wolves.
B. Big Bad Wolves. The other option for dreamwalkers is they may be turned into anthropomorphic wolves. Like the pigs, they can walk on their hind legs, use their forelegs as arms, speak, wear clothes, etc, but they will look more wolf than "person." Their goal is to destroy the houses…by eating them, although they will find they have a powerful set of lungs that will allow them to try and blow them down. Of course, those who want to help the pigs instead are allowed. Might even be a good idea considering what else is out there.
C. Candy Houses. The pigs are to build the strongest house as possible, but they can only use one type of the following material: pixy stix (straw), licorice (sticks), and jolly ranchers (bricks). Other materials such as icing, gum, and other things can be used, and dreamotion energy will be key in helping to strengthen and decorate them, but it must be made with one type of building material. Or cheat, who is actually paying attention—
D. Evil Hansel and Gretel. Although the "Big Bad Wolves" are supposed to the main antagonists, noctaere in the form of Hansel and Gretel appear and try to not only eat the houses, but also will try to turn the dreamwalkers into candy…to later consume. That would be bad, so perhaps teamwork between the pigs and the wolves will be necessary to beat them back. Fortunately they aren't too difficult to eliminate, and upon defeat they will burst into sprinkles.
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[ He can definitely do sounds!! Not that he knows their significance beyond the own vibrations his can feel in his body when he makes them. What's most important to him right now is the contact on his face; the next time he opens his eyes they're bright with delight as he gives Tsurumaru's hands a faint squeeze.
HE'LL FOLLOW YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, SIR ]
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(He'll take that as a no. This is fine, though! He can work with this. It's clear that he's made this boy's day and how can Tsurumaru take that away from him? He can't help but want to spoil him. )
Then let's go for a walk together. We have so much to explore, after all.
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By contrast, not only has Tsurumaru approached him, the spirit clearly sees him. Wants to communicate and be close to him. If his heart still beat it would swell with emotion; as it is, his chest feels fuller than it ever has before as he inhales deep; memorizing Tsurumaru's scent so that he won't forget it.
He wishes he had some way to make what he wants to say clearer--all he can do is feel the vibrations of his own grunts and noises as he makes them and do his best to convey how he's feeling with his face and hands--which he uses to hold Tsurumaru's in place so he can nuzzle and sniff them, like a Totally Normal Person.
Yup. ]
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What isn't weird is our dear sweet zombie? Tsurumaru is just vibing with this. It's fine.)
My, how cute...
(He's easily endeared ok.)
Does being held make you so happy? Well, I can understand.
(He is, after all, a sword.)
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He doesn't know what Tsurumaru's just said, but he nods along to him anyway, practically vibrating in his happiness. He wants to tell him that he's never had anyone do this for him before--wants to ask so many questions! Why is Tsurmaru's hair like his? Is he like him? How come he's so different? Does he shamble around aimlessly sometimes as a hobby? If so, they can have something in common! He shambles around with people like that all the time! He's got load of stories he could share...
...if only he could figure out how. For now, he just soaks up the attention with that same guttural rumble of delight as before. The people back home always make it when they're excited, so clearly a sort-of zombie!rumble is the perfect response here. ]
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It's a shame he can't ask because these are all questions Tsurumaru would gladly answer. Alas, with things unsaid come more things left unsaid. At least he can tell he's pleased and that's most important.)
And what is your name?
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Uuehh?
[ CLUELESS SMILE. ]
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Hm? Do you not have one?
(Because that would be? Weird?)
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also: he totally does not have a name
yet]...Uoh?
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(Patting him on the head,)
Bocchan.
(Which has a lot of meanings tbh but here, he just means it as "boy." Because Tsurumaru is creative.)
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Until then...he sees Tsurumaru's mouth form the "boh" of bocchan and the motion fascinates him, clumsily trying to mimic the movement with his lips. ]
Mmmuh...wuh--Ihii, ih!
[ at least until headpats, when he makes that squeaky laugh of his again and reaches up to pat Tsurumaru's head too. ]
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(He'll sound it out a little slower if it helps!! And also lean his head forward for those headpats. Yes. This is fine. This kid is clearly cute and he doesn't mind it.)
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B....bbbuh. Bwuh?
[ is he getting the sound right? He thinks he's got his lips moving the same way Tsurumaru's are! ]
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Good.
(And he points to himself now. Hm, speech seems difficult so he wonders how to best introduce himself. He usually only lets those close to him call him this but...)
Tsu - Ru.
(He'll make an exception.)
1/2
Eeeeh... [ no? not that sound? ] Hhh-
Sch....ss? Ssssssuh... Ou!
[ all he's got are Tsurumaru's lips to work on but he is trying his best! ]
2/2
[ It's close, in that nasally sort of way that comes from trying to make a sound without ever having heard it before ]
Ssss uh'woo!
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Yes.
(He nods,)
Well done, Bocchan.
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Ssss uh'woo, ihihhh!
[ He's filled with the immediate desire to convey something to identify himself, but....he rapidly realizes he doesn't actually have anything to denote himself. He's never needed to, after all.
He ponders over this for a moment, looking deep in thought, and decides the best way to convey it is to point at Tsurumaru and repeats the spirit's name, then point to himself and shake his head. No name!! ]
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"Tsuru."
(And at him,)
"Bocchan."
Until we we can find your name, at least.
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[ Ohhhhh, it clicks. It clicks so hard for him and he looks at Tsurumaru like he hangs the moon in the sky. ]
Ssss uh'woo...! Buh!
[ Tsurumaru! Him! He's so excited he can't help tapping his palm against his own chest and repeating the 'B' sound, laughing soundlessly with a grin of utter delight. ]