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

[It's hidden under his collar, but the corners of his mouth tilt up a bit at the use of his own coded speech back at him. Toge decides that he likes this man.]

[He takes a moment to write out his own name.]

Toge Inumaki

[And then, just because he gives the man a curious look over, he writes one more question.]

Are you a swordsman? Samurai?

Oh, Japanese? [The name seems Japanese to him at least. His hand rest on the hilt of his katana.]

My family is part of a line of samurai warriors, yes. I'm well practiced in the Asogi clan technique, but samurai are just a symbol of it's noble history in my time. [He clearly talks with a lot of pride about his heritage.]

My professional work involves working with the law.

[He nods once, with a bit more enthusiasm behind it.]

Salmon, salmon.

[He'd thought the other man's name sounded Japanese, and now the question confirms it for him. He listens to Kazuma's explanation, letting out a little hum. He'd never heard of the Asogi clan technique before, but then again his expertise was in jujutsu techniques, not samurai techniques. It was still pretty cool though.]

So you're a samurai lawyer? Then if you lose a case can you challenge them to a duel?

Haha, sorry to disappoint, but that's not really how things work. The only thing we cross in a courtroom are words. [Says the guy who chopped up the prosecution's topknot.]

What about yourself?

Mentaiko.

[The way he says it with a slight inflection makes it clear he’s a bit disappointed. Come on! Samurai lawyer! That would be a cool mental image…]

I’m a high school student

[Toge is about to hand the journal back and end it there, but… well, he’s in a magical dreamworld, right? Heck, he’s in a cafe run by fairies. Admitting he fights cursed spirits wouldn’t be too wild of a stretch at this point. So he adds one more sentence before he shows the journal to Kazuma.]

And a jujutsu sorcerer

Would you like a demonstration later? [Since he seems to have disappointed his acquaintance. Also maybe he likes showing off, just a little.

He looks over Toge's response, having no recognition of what he adds to his high school status.] Jujutsu sorcerer....? Magic? [He's putting two things together] Is that related to why you only speak in ingredients?

Salmon, salmon.

[Hell yeah he’d like a demonstration! He wonders just how good this guy was. Maybe he’d be up for a spar later…]

[Cursed techniques are kind of like magic, isn’t it? At least he would think so were he not born into a jujutsu family. He nods and writes out a response.]

Think of it more like exorcism than magic.

It is. I can curse people by talking. Can’t turn it off. So it’s safer to talk in rice ball ingredients.

Ah, so a form of exorcism. [He can wrap his head around that.]

I have a friend who would appreciate your talents back home. [He can imagine him getting flustered by his teasing about his superstitious nature. A bit of warmth emanates from him.] But I understand now. Interesting choice to go with rice ball ingredients.

[Toge makes an inquisitive noise. He's curious about that...]

[To the comment on his choice of safe words, he merely shrugs.]

They were my favourite food as a kid. And rice ball ingredients can't be mistaken for commands.

Well, I think they do have an effect. It's making me hungry. [Too bad they cannot get rice balls here, just floating thought bubbles of various kinds of rice balls instead.]

Thank you, for sharing a little about yourself.

[Toge lets out a small huff through his nose, his shoulders shaking a bit with silent laughter.]

The pastries here aren't bad. The tea is good too.

[Even if it did bring up some nostalgic memories. Idly, he wonders what his classmates would think were they here. Yuuta, Maki, and Panda... he kind of misses them.]

Same to you. You're the first samurai lawyer I've met.

[And then, because he's still feeling a little nostalgic, he adds,]

I bet my friends would probably challenge you to a duel if they met you.

Well, if they ever show up here, I would gladly accept. [Sir, do you even know what you be up against?]

[Toge raises an eyebrow.]

Even if one is a panda?

[Not like Panda would jump straight to sparring right off the bat, but he wants to see this guy's reaction.]

A panda? [He did indeed catch him by surprise by that, but he soon raises a fist. The area around him brightens.] Even a panda should he or she desire a duel.

I'll keep that in mind if he comes around.

[Realistically, Panda's too friendly and Yuuta's too polite. The one this guy'd really have to worry about is Maki. Maki's always itching for a fight.]

[He glances at the line at the cafe's front counter, noticing how short it's gotten.]

The food here is good, if you're really hungry.

[He glances towards the counter, then to the tea that some of the people were enjoying.]

...I'm sure they are, but I should probably be heading out soon. [He's wary the food will cause some strange effect like the tea. It may seem harmless, but he rather not have his thoughts made accessible to anyone.] There's still much of this world I have not explored.

Salmon.

[Toge nods to him. That's honestly fair; he'd only stopped here because he was hungry himself. He won't keep the man if he's ready to go.]

Ok. Good luck out there. Watch out for weird dream magic stuff.

{ test drive #01 - august 2021 }

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