{ 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

[vogelfrei]

[ The casual mention of Almiria is every bit as starling as the rest of this conversation. The Gaelio who was with him when he took his last breath... McGillis assumes that one would jealously guard even mention of his little sister from McGillis, who has done enough damage to her already. It's a good thing that Gaelio is busy being a beetlekeeper and not looking at the way McGillis can't figure out how to remove the hurt from his expression. ]

That's a good start. A noble name for what we can only hope will turn out to be a noble companion.

[ And looking at that spear action... ]

You know that touching him isn't half as offputting as you assume it is, right? His shell is smooth and clean.

[66th]

[ gaelio makes a face, but sets aside the stick after that comment. ]

I was just being cautious ... some bugs have weird secretions and you never know when one will show that off.

[ gaelio pats it awkwardly on the shell to confirm what mcgillis had already noted. following that, he just lifts galahad - sir, occasionally - and puts him back into his feeding pile with the saplings.

he then glances at mcgillis, frowning. ]

... you're being quiet. [ mcgillis is always quiet. so he elaborates - ] Well, more than usual.

There's not much here yet, but if you want, I can leave you alone for a bit - Galahad and I can just get to know each other while you rest.

[ he's assuming that mcgillis is recovering from the shock of being here. which, well, it's a fair thing to assume, isn't it? it's quite the strange world. gaelio's not sure why they're here in the first place and what their chances are of returning. but whatever else it is that they need to talk about, that can wait until mcgillis is feeling better. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Ah. It's bad when Gaelio can already pick up on the fact that there is something off about McGillis. If he doesn't get his act together then they're going to have a very uncomfortable conversation very soon. Letting that happen is not an option.

There is nothing he stands to gain by hurting Gaelio here. "I killed you and I would do it again if it meant advancing my goals" is a truth that holds no value in a world where there are no goals. So then, Gaelio doesn't need to know. ]

You'd imagine someone like me to be more enthusiastic about landing in a strange dreamworld, huh? [ A wry smile. ] But I've had my head in the middle of a hundred little things at home, so this is pretty jarring. The hazards of growing up into a working adult.

[66th]

"Working adult", he says! I see you're ignoring my contributions once more. That's rather unfair of you.

[ but that's a rather mcgillis answer. it's exactly what he expected of him, and so he just sighs. ]

So what you're really saying is we need to hang out more.

We're not working here, after all. I refuse. [ he's putting his foot down in his haughtiest attitude, grinning at mcgillis. how lovely to not be privy to everything that plagues his friend. ] But I'm sure this world has plenty to offer for you and I.

Truthfully, I feel bad - I don't know what's happening at home, especially with you and I being here. [ gaelio frowns, folding his arms over his chest as he thinks about it. ] But there's ... nothing we can do about our situation right now, and whoever's in charge isn't really expecting anything out of us either - at least, as far as I can tell.

I'm inclined to go with its pace until something else changes. I don't think it's unreasonable for us to do that, too ... and the people have been fairly decent. [ not to mention the bugs. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Gaelio is right. Shining bright as always, smiling like the sun, he is right. Granted, he is only right because McGillis is quite literally too dead to have a counterargument, but still.

He releases a long breath, relieving some tension. It is only the two of them, their reality won't catch up immediately. He can treat this like every ill-advised daydream he'll later pretend he never had. ]

We're in the middle of renovating our future house. I know you're eager to stop working, but please delay your vacation until we've finished making this place livable.

[66th]

... it's part of it! I'm not going to ignore it ...

[ but mcgillis said 'ours' and mcgillis said 'we' and that's more than enough to perk up his mood and not make him sulk for too long.

gaelio sits beside him, nudging the side of his shoulder with a smile. ]

But you know, this really feels familiar, doesn't it? Like we're children again - you, me, and Carta.

[vogelfrei]

[ What a cruel thing to say.

This may not be the real afterlife but McGillis still can't help but feel like Gaelio was sent here specifically to torture him. This is his punishment for not valuing the things that are supposed to be good and holy - that love and friendship that Gaelio kept preaching to him over and over. Those humans bonds even the tough-as-nails Tekkadan forged in the wilderness of Mars would put above all.

Insurmountable barriers between McGillis and everybody he knows.

And still, when Gaelio nudges against him, McGillis has to resist the urge to slump against him as if he were dying on him yet again. ]

It really is too bad the powers that be didn't decide to bring her along. With a treehouse settlement like this, one has to wonder if she'd revive the tree climbing wars of old...

[ He manages to make himself laugh with that, though it feels heavy in his throat. ]

[66th]

[ gaelio laughs, heedless of the turmoil in his friend's thoughts. ]

Imagine! But you know, if we actually had to do that again here - I won't lose to her anymore.

[ he likes watching mcgillis laugh. it sounds strange when he does it, like he forgets the organs are there to produce such a sound. and gaelio would argue he doesn't do it enough, though it's by no means not because he doesn't try. he tries often. mcgillis is just too serious, most of the time, and too much in his thoughts, most of the time.

mcgillis doesn't push him away, and so he doesn't shy away from leaning into his space as he always does. ]

Though really, I'm more worried about you than anything else. [ gaelio says this in amusement, more than anything aligned with what mcgillis thinks of - ] There is nothing here to audit, Specialist Major. Whatever will you do? Terrorize the tapirs, I suppose.

[ mcgillis in charge of such things would be so funny to him. when galahad skitters back to gaelio, he takes a sapling and feeds it to him with a smile. ]

[vogelfrei]

[ Specialist Major... it's been a while since he's heard that and he's going to have to be careful to introduce himself as such to strangers, should rank come up. It would be pretty awkward to explain this to Gaelio otherwise. ]

... well. I'd be lying to say I hadn't already thought about it.

[ And that is the cold hard truth. He's dead, but he's the kind of person who won't stop working even as a corpse. There is much to be done here in Reverein and it could be done more efficiently and---

--- yeah, Gaelio is right to make fun of him, maybe. ]

[66th]

... Seriously? You're ridiculous, Mcgillis. Your idea of order is going to give people nightmares around here.

[ isn't that prophetic.

he passes galahad to him, who is eating the last bit of leaf. ]

Maybe we ought to get a second pet. That'll keep you busy, and Galahad entertained.

[vogelfrei]

Now you're just getting ahead of yourself.

[ And also underestimating McGillis' ability to be restless even with a dozen animals to take care of - he's fairly certain that alone will not be intellectually stimulating enough to shut his brain up. ]

I'm certain I'll be able to find something better to do than mutate into a... crazy beetle mister.

[66th]

And even if you did, what's wrong with that?

[ pretty sure they can just be crazy beetle misters if they wanted to, there's no law saying otherwise! ]

In any case everything is possible here in this world, right? We can just dream things for us to be busy with ... problems to solve and the like.

[vogelfrei]

[ That indignant simple nature... McGillis had missed it all along, but maybe he never realized just how much. Looking at Gaelio hurts and heals in equal measures, but McGillis' smile is growing more earnest. ]

That defeats the purpose of problem solving, I'd say. Let's just take it one step at a time - if I go entirely stir-crazy and start writing up performance reviews for the tapirs, you can still try occupational therapy on me then.