{ test drive #01 - august 2021 }

[dreamposts]

✵ TEST DRIVE MEME ✵
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 open on August 25th and Applications open on September 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle won't be until November.

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:

Rainy Morning. After drinking this tea, one might feel a little melancholic or nostalgic for something from their past. They might even have a short little daydream of a distant memory.

Summer Afternoon. This tea will make anyone feel more vigorous and joyful. So much so they might start shining like the summer sun itself! Any dreams influenced by the tea will be one of a happy occasion or a hopeful dream.

Autumn Evening. Brewed with special strong, herbal spices, this tea has a bit more of a kick to it, but it's also warm and is great for calming nerves while giving just enough of a confidence boost to get through whatever difficulties lie ahead. The dreams influenced by this tea will reflect when the drinker has been their bravest.

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. HOME IMPROVEMENTS

The entire town is in need of a massive fixer upper, but one of the first areas everyone will likely want to start is the residential area to figure out their new homes. Instead of houses, most of the homes are in the trees. Be it a treehouse or carved into the tree itself, various dwellings can be found. Unfortunately, there are some unwanted guests making a mess of things, so they will need to be cleared out.

A. Pest Control. One of the worst offenders are giant bugs of varying size of type with the biggest about the size of a large dog. Some are actually quite friendly and can be shooed or coaxed away to the forests just outside of town. Or who knows, someone might befriend them and make them into a new pet or house helper. The giant beetles could make for some interesting guard...bugs. Some, however, are more hostile as they find the fruits, leaves, flowers, and wood of the trees delicious. The biggest threats are the giant termites so they must definitely be eradicated or removed.

B. A Little Pruning. The trees themselves are a little...testy in large part of the bugs that have been chowing down on them. After the bugs are cleared they will calm down and become more passive, but until then everyone will also have to beware of wild swinging branches, rotten fruit falling, and roots suddenly springing up from the ground. Another way to appease the trees is cutting out some of the old, rotten wood and giving the trees some pruning, especially any vines that are choking some to death. Positive dreamotion energy will also help revitalize the area.

C. Tidying Up. Once the area is clear, the new residents can start cleaning up and repairing the different houses there. From repairing walkways connecting the trees, to the stairs and ladders that lead up to the treehouses, to decluttering and repairing the buildings, there's a plethora of work that needs to be done.

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 Spooky Forest and it first starts in a pumpkin patch before moving to a dark, fog filled forest.

A. Suddenly Pumpkins. The moment anyone enters the dream they will find themselves in a fenced in pumpkin patch and turned into a pumpkin. Since anything can happen while dreamwalking, the first exercise is to try and change back to their original form or have fun and just roll around as pumpkins. They can even try to change the pumpkin form, such as changing the size, the shape, color. Just watch out for the mice. They are feeling very artistic and will try to scribble whatever on any pumpkin around, but otherwise are harmless and easily scared off. The marker will remain even when turned to the normal, but should be easy enough to remove, right? The only way to leave the patch is to turn back to normal.

B. Festive Candy Hunt. At some point the tapirs come in and ask the dreamwalkers to try and change the spooky forest into something a little more festive. They are given free rein to change the environment in how they see fit. Of course, this means the dreamwalkers need to figure out how to focus their energy and imagination to make those changes. Perhaps starting small by adding decorations or changing the colors of the leaves is a good starting place. But there may be some difficulty as some rogue candy is messing things up and getting in the way. Capable of movement, they will dash, roll, and even fly to evade capture. They will also try and defend themselves using special "attacks" based on what they are. Chocolate will make melted chocolate puddles, taffy will make sticky traps, bubble gum will try and encase people in a sticky bubble—might want to avoid the giant jawbreaker as it's more of a bodybreaker. Fortunately once caught, the candy will change to its more normal form. Maybe altering the environment could work to their advantage. If successful in either decorating or catching the candy, there will be some kind of reward later.

C. A Little Frightening. While traversing through the forests, any small, minor kind of fear will manifest and chase them around. For example if one is afraid of spiders, a small group or one large spider will suddenly appear. If one hates cleaning, a bunch of brooms and brushes will start harassing them. It's not enough to induce full blown nightmares, and no one can actually be harmed, but it's enough to give anyone a fright and need help getting rid of them. Thinking of more pleasant ideas that counter the fears, like fluffy clouds or cute plushies, can help disperse them. If the fears worsen instead, a small noctaere will form. The tapirs warn that they are creaturn born from nightmare energy, and if too many appear and grow bigger the dreamscape could turn into a nightmare. So what a great opportunity for the dreamwalkers to test out their new dreamotion abilities! Especially since their original abilities aren't even useful while dreaming. The noctaere are quite weak, so a few hits can easily disperse them, but there might be a few that will take a bit more teamwork. This is especially so since everyone's abilities will be weak as well.

Comments

[noblegarnet]

I'm familiar with the—

[—what?

He stops short, turning his attention to Vanitas with some amount of astonishment. Ferran is absolutely certain he hadn't given out his name, but even attributing it to the idea that this dream has been drawn out of his own mind doesn't feel like the correct conclusion.

There is a reason here, an answer. Something that ties it all together. Even as he wonders and fails to reach it on his own, he has to consider: is it an answer he wants? Given what previous experiences have shown him, he's not so sure. Regardless, he's been caught off guard, which is impressive given how little he cares about whatever's going on in this world.]

You...

[His tone isn't accusatory, even if his posture is more tense than it was a moment ago. The furrow in his brow is conflicted and questioning, though he hasn't decided to put a voice to the latter.]

[darkcharge]

[ Yeah, see. Vanitas still gets a thrill out of those sorts of reaction. The look that says "how?" with a slightly confused yet irritated glance. Or sometimes even an angry or enraged one.

The one he's getting from Ferran? It makes Vanitas grin. Of course his "grin" is more like a smug, knowing smirk. As if to say "no, you didn't tell me that name of yours." ]

Me what?

[noblegarnet]

[The last time his missing memories were clarified by a black-haired, yellow-eyed person, Ferran's entire life was upended. As a result, the surge of anxiety that silences him for a few moments is only to be expected.

... but it resolves, somewhat. He's not on the verge of panic like he had been back then, and the sense he gets now isn't dread—although some distress at missing something significant still remains. He can tell he's being played with, and the idea... irritates him. His hands curl into fists at his sides.]

Give me your name.

[It's only fair.]

[darkcharge]

Don't fret too much, Ferran. If I held any ill will towards you or wanted to do you any harm... I just ruined any element of surprise I would have had.

[ Vanitas waves him off. There's another bug that he picks up and tosses out the window. Of course something comes in the window as well. A Flood. Though Van doesn't seem particularly bothered by it, he doesn't look pleased either. ]

My name, for the second time, is Vanitas.

[noblegarnet]

[He bristles at the implication that he was—aside from that brief moment of instinctive panic—concerned that Vanitas was going to hurt him, like he somehow couldn't protect himself in such a case. The temperature rises around him by just enough to be noticed.]

I wasn't afraid of you.

[He was confused, certainly, and upset at his lack of memory. Aggravated that this person was so willing to throw said amnesia in his face, like it's a game. But that's it.

Resolutely, he replies:]

I won't forget it again.

[He doesn't know what the Flood is, but it's not something he's concerned about for the moment. His eyes stay on Vanitas.]

[darkcharge]

Fret isn't the same as fear. Though it can include fear. You are, after all, experiencing a myriad of different emotions. None of them are very positive ones so I settled on "fret." If you want I could, instead, say fussing, but that wouldn't go over very well.

[ Vanitas doesn't seem bothered either way, does he? He just keeps chattering on, ignoring any and all tells or body language.

At least... Until Ferran says "I won't forget again." This is what causes Vanitas to pause. This time when he turns to smirk at the other, it doesn't actually work. It definitely doesn't hold that haughty look to it. If anything... It almost looks apologetic. For the briefest of moments. ]

You will forget. That much is guaranteed.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran takes a moment longer than usual to parse the implications of what Vanitas is saying, but he gets there: this guy can somehow sense what he's feeling... and for some reason, that same loss of memory that bothered Ferran may not be as much of a game for Vanitas as he initially thought.

He doesn't, however, take offense at the idea of fussing, and the way he crosses his arms is more stubbornness than anger. He'll admit to being upset.]

I'll fuss if I want to. And you can't say what I will or won't remember.

[... maybe he will forget, once this dream is over. But even now, in the dulled state he's in, he feels so strongly against the idea that he refuses to acknowledge it as a possibility.]

[darkcharge]

You already have, haven't you?

[ Just thinking to point that out. There's no malice in Vanitas' words. No sadness either though. It's just a statement of fact. Ferran has forgotten. He will forget again. They all knew that this is a possibility upon leaving the city, the Coven, and the Mirrors behind. ]

[noblegarnet]

Maybe your name didn't come to me immediately, but I remember you.

[Back home... perhaps he did forget about all that, about Vanitas. But it's here now, even if not fully just yet. And that means something.]

I knew you were more than just a stranger when I saw you. [He shakes his head, a little frustrated.] My head is just... full of fog these days...

[darkcharge]

[ It does mean something... For the duration of however long they are here. It doesn't amount to much when Ferran returns to his home world. When he simply forgets again.

Not that Vanitas holds grudges against Ferran for something like that. It is just the way of things. ]

The brat says that even when the mind forgets, the heart doesn't. Or something sentimental like that.

[ Which maybe Sora knows more than most. Who can say? ]

Whatever the case, either it will come back to you or it won't. This place really isn't like the last.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran may not remember which brat Vanitas is referring to yet, but it's not quite as important as the idea for the moment. He's sure he'll get around to it.]

... yeah. I've had that experience before.

[Though in a very different way. He'd felt an uneasiness he couldn't shake around his guardian, even though everything else told him he could trust the man implicitly. He'd attributed it to something else at the time, and now—well, it's not like he's heeded those feelings. Regardless...]

Even if it doesn't, I'll just—learn about you again. [And you're going to have to deal with it, Vanitas.]

[darkcharge]

[ "I'll just learn about you again." Wow... That's something he's heard a couple of times already. Despite the gloom that might be following Ferran around right now, doesn't that speak more of his character than anything else? At least Vanitas thinks that it does.

It's a stupidly noble thing, isn't it? How is it that he's come into the company of so many individuals over the course of nearly two years that are actually good souls. ]

If that's what you really want to do. Such determination!

[noblegarnet]

[For all the harm he's done to his friends, he'd like to think that it's for a purpose, a reason... even if that reason is ultimately to make himself feel better. This, though? Forgetting someone? That's far from intentional, and he has to fix it. Perhaps that's just his desire to change things that are out of his control, but he can't help how he feels about it, he guesses.

It doesn't take a genius to see Vanitas's apparent compliment isn't entirely sincere, but even if it was genuine, he'd dismiss it. He responds with a quiet huff and a shake of his head.]

"Stubbornness," is what you meant to say.

[Still, he's glad not to hear any resistance to the idea.]

[darkcharge]

[ Sincerity is something that is rather hard to gauge with Vanitas when he's being a little guarded. Or very guarded. Certainly no one would hold it against him considering the fact that people he knows may not know him... And even if they had apparently their memories are going to be a little fuzzy, if existent at all.

He's not someone who deals with being forgotten very easily, regardless of who is at fault. However, Van isn't going to stop someone from trying. He's not that type of person either. ]

If I am being honest, I can't name a single soul that I'm acquainted with that isn't stubborn.

[noblegarnet]

[Acquainted with is a turn of phrase that Ferran takes note of, though he can't be sure if his assumptions over it have any real cause yet. That's another thing he'll have to remember, or else learn again.]

Birds of a feather, huh? [It's not surprising.] Then you're prepared, at least.

[darkcharge]

[ What? Ferran is going to have to learn all over again that Vanitas isn't the sort to use the word "friend" even though that's exactly what he has? Hmm! ]

Oh that I am. There's really nothing for it. I've long given up trying to conqueror that particular trait.