songerein | { test drive #01

✵ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His hand lowers from his mouth, leaving behind a rare, if genuine look of anger coming from him. He really did not expect her to say something like that-- when did Elsa become this self-assured? He feels angry for some reason, perhaps it's the fact that she pities him of all things. It's somehow worse than her thinking that he's a monster, because at least that makes sense.

Pity implies something else, like she thinks he's pathetic. And he's not pathetic. Just because his major plan failed doesn't mean he's fully out yet, regardless of whatever punishment his brothers decide to bestow on him. Plus, he has this entire dream world to do what he wants.]

I'm Prince Hans Westergaard of the Southern Isles.

[Does he sound a little defensive? Yep. And normally he's far better at controlling his emotions, but he's finding it a little difficult right now.]

And I'll decide who I can hurt, I won't make the same mistake twice. [Even if Anna isn't here to use against her, there's always another way. It's fine, he can be creative.]

[ that certainly struck a nerve, didn't it? and no surprise. bullies always fold or snarl when their typical brands of cruelty cease to serve them, and hans has shown his hand. still, that does not stay her pity. she may not necessarily think him pathetic, but his behavior certainly is. ]

Why? What does it gain you? Does it make you happy? Truly?

[ elsa might not have been like him, but she knows false happiness, she knows what coping is like. she knows what it's like to fake happiness and stability when your world is crumbling, when everything feels unsafe and terrifying, when it feels like there is no way out. that sort of happiness isn't real, it is thin and flimsy, empty, never truly satisfying. ]

You're only going to harm yourself in the end.

[Personal satisfaction is a big thing!!

It won't make him unhappy, Hans is quite sure about that, but he refuses to self-reflect any further. He is not about to let Elsa get under his skin, although, it might already be too far late for that. It's just going to be another thing he's going to ignore for now, especially he feels his shoulders tense, with his gloved hands curling tightly into his palms.]

Why does it matter to you? Why don't you tell everyone in this world that I tried to kill you and Anna?

[He intended to make that comment sound cold, even a little judgmental, but it only comes off as petulant (and probably not the smartest thing to suggest). It's still that unacknowledged defensiveness at play and how clear it is that Elsa is still pitying him of all things.]

[ she sure does pity him!! even more once his tone turns petulant. it hadn't been easy to see, when he had been so coldly manipulating her, when he had stood over her with a sword in hand, but he really is.. sad, isn't he?

and also, you know, terrible. elsa is still angry. she probably always will be, in a way, but she's also different, she sees things differently, she sees herself differently, which means her reflection of the world and people around her has changed, too. a lot has changed. ]

Is that what you want me to do?

[ realistically, she.. probably should. he's kind of an attempted murderer and a political criminal?? who knows what he could do here. but this is also, you know, rp, and i don't wanna cramp your style yanno. ]

Do you plan to hurt others?

[A fleeting thought passes by him, an idea to nearly reply with 'of course he wouldn't hurt anyone,' but they're both beyond that. And honestly, he's not in much of a mood to pick up the scraps of his genial façade, especially when she's the only person to witness him right now.]

Would you believe me even if I promised that I wouldn't?

[Hans at least composes himself enough that he's not as defensive, keeping a more cool, if calm pitch of voice as he looks at the Arendelle queen.]

I don't plan on harming anyone, not right now. [He pulls his eyes away from her, just looking off into a different direction, mostly at the colorful decorations still hanging from the trees.] Believe it or not, I don't come into every situation planning to hurt others.

[ he's no longer putting up the kind facade, so elsa is inclined to believe him. it might be naive of her, but he seems to be telling the truth. he had a plan back home, after all, and while what he did was horrible, his reasoning was sound enough. he wanted more than what he was born into, and so he plotted to take it.

but here, in this place.. what could be analogous?

honestly, elsa doesn't know, and truly she doesn't want to waste her energy on it anyway. she was free of him and his machinations, and she would like her life to remain that way. alas, she's too responsible not to at least keep an eye on him.. ]

Then I see no reason to shout your secret to the world. Or the.. dream.

[ the but if that changes.. is implied. ]

Maybe you can find something better to live for.

[He wonders why she's giving him a chance at all. There's clearly something he's missed since the last time they've seen each other. He finds it hard to believe that she could... give him this opportunity otherwise.

Or maybe he didn't have a good read on her to begin with. He thought he did, he thought he was able to read both Anna and Elsa well ~~of course he did fail in the end~~.]

...Why.

[He thought about just leaving this conversation be, maybe retreat and not deal with her any longer, but... guess part of him is actually curious about Elsa and her strong self-confidence. Has it just been through ruling Arendelle since he's been gone? She is the leader, and while some change is to be expected there, her growth isn't something to be ignored still.]

You're speaking as if you want my life to improve. [He doesn't feel the need to bring up the whole 'I tried to kill you' bit again, they both know that.] Why would you want that?

Well, speaking selfishly, if your life is better, mine will be, too.

[ because if hans is marginally happy, he won't be off being a freak and trying to kill people, or her, most likely. ]

But..

[ her expression falls just so. ]

Everyone deserves a second chance. Even you.

[ elsa, after all, is not without sin. she might not have done any of it on purpose, or with malicious intent like hans had, but she had hurt people. she had fallen prey to her fear and anxiety and allowed it to overrun her. but anna had always loved and believed in her nonetheless, and the people of arendelle accepted her back as well. she was given her second chance, so she can hardly begrudge it to others. ]

[He thinks about pointing out the fact that she could have him imprisoned and her life would still probably be better. But Hans doesn't want to give her too many ideas, even if it's already crossed her mind, better to be safe than sorry.]

You really think so?

[Hans feels almost uncomfortable that she's giving him a second chance, but guess he better take advantage of it. She'll let him do what he wants as long as he's not 'hurting anyone,' but that only counts if she knows about it, right? But he wasn't lying either when he said that he had no intention of harming anyone... not right now at least.

There's a lot of possibilities here and he doesn't intend to hold himself back.]

Well, how exceedingly kind of you. Thank you, Queen Elsa. [He won't waste his second chance-- he'll be careful this time.]

[ it's naive of her to offer this at all, she knows, but it simply would not feel right otherwise. especially in a place like this. elsa has no authority here, after all, she is no queen, she is only a girl, and she couldn't throw him into prison even if she wanted to. the best she can do is.. this. keep from antagonizing him and hope that he behaves himself.

but he doesn't need her to tell him out loud that she will be watching. as best as she can, at least. elsa's mercy is not without limit, and she's not quite so sure that he has learned his lesson.

people do not change so easily, after all. ]

Mm. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to work.

[ more decorations to make!! ]

{ test drive #01 - august 2021 }

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