songerein | { test drive #01

Entry tags:

-tdm

{ test drive #01 - august 2021 }

✵ 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 fine. [A handwave. It gave him time to get his thoughts together.]

It wouldn't be like you to just sit around.

...I don't think I could in a situation like this.

We've been through a lot in the past months but this... even I don't know what to do with this. Just when I finally thought I knew what I was doing.

[It's a little funny, in an ironic way. Maybe that's because it's hard to really grasp what the full gravity of this weird adventure is yet. There's just too much he doesn't know. However--]

...but I'm sure between the two of it, it's nothing we can't handle.

[He hums quietly.] Tell me, what was the last thing you were doing before coming here?

[He stops what he's doing for a moment, glancing toward an opening in the tree. He thought he heard something, but maybe it was just the wind.]

--huh? Sleeping, obviously.

[Ryunosuke says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world. But then, to him, it is. It doesn't occur to him that in a situation like this, there are more than a few discrepancies that could exist.]

You have no idea how happy I was to get to sleep on a real bed. It had been... three days, I believe... since we set sail to return to Japan.

[He's not as diligent as Susato, but his memory is good. He remembers it clearly. But that's what strikes him as odd. Kazuma had to have some reason behind his question.] Why do you ask?

...I meant before you fell asleep. [Well, he eventually got some details out of Ryunosuke, and the information he gains is curious.]

I just left both you and Susato-san in the courtroom. [It's not exactly where he left off, but it would be the last time he and Ryunosuke's path crossed for him. So how will Ryunosuke take this information?]

Wait-- what? ...in the courtroom?

[It takes a moment to process that. Even if he meant just after the trial, that still suggested this... this gap... between their memories. Things he couldn't have made up in his own mind and things that Kazuma of all people couldn't have simply forgotten.

Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth. Right...

Some part of him worries about the answer. The other... knows that he has to find out.]

It's not like you to be daydreaming in court. We weren't in court together that many times. Which case was it? What do you remember?

[He stands, his back to Naruhodo as he continues to clean.] About a week since the case behind Odie Asman's murder was closed.

[A pause, as he turns to look at Naruhodo with his arm's crossed, his friend no doubt even more confused and concern.] I'm sure you've just worked out, time works differently here.

[Odie Asman's murder... The gap was wider than he realized. But now he knew.

Time works differently here... it sounds simple enough, but it raises a lot of questions. And yet Kazuma didn't seem all that puzzled by it. Ryunosuke nods.]

...it sounds like you worked that out a while ago.

I did. [...Since Naruhodo has worked out that much.]

This isn't the first place I've experienced a time discrepancy.

[Not the first time is one thing, but place... It sounds too crazy to be real. Even once feels like too much. But he can't properly deny it, now that he's experiencing it for himself.]

...you mean you've been to another place like this before?

A strange land, seeking help from other worlds and timelines. [A small shrug.] Just replace dreams with restoring stories.

[For a moment he just stares, incredulously.]

You make it sound so simple.

You get used to it. [How does one "get used to it"??]

But perhaps...I have been away from home for too long. [It's not like time mattered much when he was at the Index. Even then...something or someone kept him from returning home.] So you departed Great Britain for Japan, you said? [Would you like to come back to something familiar?]

[How does one "get used to it"?? At least share your tips and tricks!]

...I don't know what happened but it sounds like you've been through a lot.

[....yes and no. Even putting aside all that skips, it's bittersweet. The goodbyes were still fairly fresh.] Ah-- that's right. After my last case I got an offer to return home and use what I learned from my time in Great Britain to further things in Japan. So... I accepted.

[And he's not going to go into what that "a lot" is. Surely that won't backfire later.]

I see. You've really chosen to stay on the path of a defense attorney then. [The area seems to brighten with a calming warmth. Time may have stopped for Kazuma, but it's kept moving on for Ryunosuke, since that day in the Japanese courtroom. It matter little of his own concerns, that in his future they will part ways. He was happy for his dear friend in this moment.] I always knew, of course. Truly, I cannot fully express how proud I am, knowing how far you've gone, and will go.

[Surely not.

Meanwhile, Kazuma's flattery only serves to fluster Naruhodo; embarrassment causing shifts in the colors of everything around him, all taking on more of a reddish hue.]

Well... I never would have gotten here if it weren't for you. That day in court left a really strong impression on me. [He shakes his head.] I know I've still got a long way to go, but... I'm finally ready now. [Ah--] Or. I guess... I will be. When I wake up.

Hah hah hah, have confidence! If you believe you are, then you are. [Goodness, when was the last time he laughed like this?]

And it seems, I'm in for an outstanding performance before you leave the British Empire. [He puts his hands on his hips.] But that can wait. I sense someone is trying to avoid cleaning.

Just wait and see. I think it'll surprise even you.

[After all now's probably not the time to get into all that. Even cleaning is a little better.]

I didn't forget!! [He forgot.] I'm going, I'm going--

[Slowly but surely, the place will get cleared up. A few rotting roots were hiding in some of the larger pile of debris, awaiting an opportunity to strike, but Asogi will be quick to eliminate the problem.]

Careful lifting anything up.

[It's not easy work, but he has to say-- they did good work. Although he has the blade he was entrusted with at his side-- he's nothing like Kazuma with it.] Right... I'm gonna clear away the windows. Some fresh air will probably do this place some good. [Unfortunately, it's laced with crawling vines. And though he pulls enough of them off to open the window, one of the vines wraps itself around his wrist and tries to pull him out the window with it.]

Nnnnonononono!! Let! Go--!

[It has his good hand so he does the only thing he can think of in the moment.

He bites it. Hard. Maybe he can chew through it before it throws him out. He sure hopes he can.]

[Kazuma waste no time coming to Ryunosuke's aid. Without thinking, he had drawn Karuma instead of the saber, revealing it's tip was missing. Still, this legendary sword was more than capable of handling some vines. With katana drawn, he rushes in to cut them down with extreme precision. Did the blade even make contact with the plants? There were singe marks where he had cut, as if the vines had been burned.

He had a dark expression, but at least...he was himself. He was in full control of his actions, not manipulated by another's voice for once. And right now, he needs to make sure Ryunosuke is safe.

The window being open unfortunately just brought more misfortune as more vines creep inside. He hopes he's sliced enough vines to give Naruhodo some wiggle room to fully free himself before they reach him.]

[The moment the vine's cut, all the force he'd been using to try and pull himself away from the window sends him falling onto his back. He spits out the nasty pieces of vine. One of the broken boards lies on the floor next to him and he grabs it, before dragging himself back to his feet.

He drags himself to his feet, taking a step back but drawing the broken board in front of him.]

...alright. Not one of my finer ideas. [He looks over at Kazuma for direction.] Alright. What now?

[Maybe he should have mentioned he's been hearing movement outside this place while they were cleaning, but ...well, that's in the past now.]

Now... [They should run, but they were out here to complete a task, weren't they?] We need to locate the source. [Cutting these vines is pointless if they just keep coming.] Come on! [Keep up with him, he's heading outside and following the vine trail.]

[Running was Ryunosuke's first idea at least. But he's not exactly surprised when Kazuma's suggestion is to take care of the problem at the source. He admires that about him, really.

Doesn't mean he's not inwardly screaming a bit at the thought.] R-right! Right behind you--! [He doesn't dare fall behind; watching the ground for any more wildlife that might have any wild ideas.]

[It's just some tree vines, Naruhodo. He's drawn out his saber, dual wielding blades to cut away at any vines that come too close. This sensation, to be in full control of his actions in a fight without needing to worry about someone taking hold of his body. How long has it been since he was able to go all out like this?

The mass of vines were getting greater as the wander deeper. Eventually he can see them clumping around a tree branch. Bits of dark wisp linger around the branch, as if it was infected by the vines.] It's there.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ test drive #01 - august 2021 }

no subject

no subject

no subject

spoilers for GAA2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject