songerein | { test drive #02

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{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

✵ TEST DRIVE MEME: NOVEMBER ✵
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. Note: the TDM timeframe is the start of November, after the Halloween events. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any TDM related questions here. Reserves are open and Applications will open on November 1st. The next application cycle won't be until March, 2022.

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. 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.]

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 has filled in a bit, but it's still larger than the current population and 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...just be careful.

D. Dreambucks Café. There is a certain quaint little café back in the Plaza that is known for its refreshing and unique teas and drinks. Called Dreambucks, it's 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:

Caramel Delight. A caramel flavored tea with a few spices to add a little warmth to the taste. Just a few sips will make anyone want to find the nearest fireplace, grab a blanket, and settle in as they reminisce on happier moments.

Cranberry Cheer. A strong, flavorful cold juice that will renew one's vigor by leaps and bounds. ...And also make one leap and bound away through their day. Drinking this will inspire one to spread good tidings and festive feelings, be it left over from Halloween or some other seasonal festivity they may be familiar with. General good will to all is also an option.

Hazelnut Hot Chocolate. This warm drink can be topped with moon and star shaped marshmallows and is a perfect alternative for those who may prefer a more mellow drink. A drink of this will develop a want to share stories from nostalgic memories to riveting adventures to chilling horrors—whatever may be on their one or feel creative to make up.

Although it doesn't always happen, sometimes the drinks 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. CANDY CHAOS

Despite the dramatic events that occurred during the dreamscape and the after effects still waiting to be seen, some good things happened as a result of the Halloween festivities. Looking ahead to other holidays, a few people are trying their hand in making candies. After all, they all can't rely on the fae for everything and with new resources at their disposal, there's no excuse now.

A. Candy Mining. One morning a few friendly gnomes that dwell beneath the town pop up and announce that one of the caves has changed from normal rock crystals to candy rock crystals. More strangely, once mined they change color and flavor depending on the person's emotions or their last dream is at the time the candy rock crystal is removed. Ready to create something new, various candy makers send out requests for various "flavors" to experiment. People are welcome to try and create their own kind of candy or other crafts with the new candy rock crystals as well. However, the gnomes will warn that the candy rock crystals may explode if anyone who had strong nightmares or extreme emotions touch them, even after they are extracted. So take care!

B. Cotton Candy Sheep. A new type of sheep has been discovered (or introduced? Who is to say—) roaming just outside of the farmlands and it appears their wool is made out of cotton candy. While one might be wary of eating straight off the animal, it is said the wool is not only delicious, but could actually be used in clothing if processed correctly. Of course, that still needs to be tested so who knows if it's true. For now, some would like to herd them to the corrals, however they are fast and flighty creatures, capable of hopping several tens of feet into the air and float away. The best way to lure them is to create hard candy wind chimes as they are not only attracted to the sound, but also the taste. The sweeter and crunchier, the better.

C. Trick Candy. Halloween may be over, but the idea of using candy for silly pranks is eternal. One day there will be full "joke" shops around, but for now candy will be the focus. A contest is being held for anyone to not only learn how to make candy, but devise ways for them to turn into fun pranks. Turning one's tongue a different color is too basic, how about something that could change the entire body? Or hair if that's too difficult. Those not part of the creative process will also be exposed to the end products—and failures. Some taffy rope that's decided to slither around and tie people together, a giant jawbreaker expanding to the size of a large boulder rolling down the streets, people taste testing bubble gum now floating in the air—the possibilities are endless.

III. DREAMSCAPE TUTORIAL: HAUNTED TOY HOUSE

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 Haunted Toy House with everyone stuck in a life sized doll house filled with cursed toys.

A. Feeling a bit stiff. Upon entering the dreamscape, some dreamwalkers may find themselves looking a bit like a cursed toy, so hopefully no one mistakes them as an enemy. The form can vary from a wooden doll to a plush toy and always with some kind of corruption or missing piece. A truly ghastly appearance that would scare any child and spawn nightmares. While in this form, dreamwalkers may find their abilities a bit altered to fit the form.

B. House Traps. There are numerous rooms in this strange house, and some might even feel they are in a piece of Escher artwork instead with stairs going here and there and upside down. With it being a dreamscape, the concept of gravity is certainly otherworldly here. While some rooms are harmless, others are filled with traps. Spikes shooting down from ceilings; doors sealed shut as the walls close in; floors turning into black goop or disappearing completely. It's a giant maze and one has to wonder if that giant exit sign is real or another trap (it's another trap). Best way to disarm the traps and obstacles is using one's imagination and test out those dreamotion abilities.

C. Corrupt Toys. Inhabiting the house are several toys ready to pounce on their new "visitors." Fortunately they can be beaten back easily and can be "purified" to return to their original state. All it requires is a nice "injection" of positive dreamotion energy, though how that can happen varies. A healing spell, a smack from a weapon created from positive feelings, encouraging words—the toys just feel lonely and abandoned. Playing with them may also help turn them into allies. The more toys "purified," the less corrupt the house will be in turn. However, if more become corrupted instead, things will turn into even more of a dangerous nightmare and noctaere may start appearing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's no way.

( alphen please don't go trying....
besides, you're supposed to leave the flyers to her! )

They must be lighter than they look, even with all that wool weighing them down.

( honestly though, these sheep are actually kind of adorbale? and for her part, shionne is keeping her distance from them, with a forlorn sort of look in her eyes. if only she could pet one or two... they're so cute. )

It's... supposed to be edible, too.

( shionne, no!! )

Yeah, maybe you're right. We can onl---

[ Shionne's got her priorities in order. Alphen isn't going to judge too harshly for it, but he interrupts his own line of thought and focuses on her last words.]

You're thinking about eating them at a time like this? Are you hungry?

[ He's going to try listening to her stomach because that will give him the answer he needs to hear. ]

It— it's been a long day!

( she'd be hungry no matter what time of day it is. but this has definitely been A Day, as it was.
and honestly, if they were here to try and herd the little guys anyway would it be so bad to just... help themselves a little?

that aside, shionne makes her way over towards something on the ground, picking it up. )

That farmhand said they used chimes to try and draw their attention. Maybe this is one of them?

( she'll hold it up for him to see. )

Now that we're talking about it I'm hungry too.

[ He's coming in closer to take a look at the chimes. Oh yeah, those things. Is it really going to work? Alphen has some doubts about this whole situation but he's seen stranger things in his life so he simply nods. ]

I remember hearing about that too. Let's give it a go.

[ Maybe he's standing too close to Shionne for comfort. Does she still have her thorn curse in this world? Time to find out the hard way. ]

( oh... phew.
somehow, maybe even without trying, alphen once again has her feeling a little more at ease. maybe she could even ask him to just grab a handful when—
wait, what was he...? )

Hey!

( but her warning comes too late. the dark crackling magic around her took shape, and she winced, knowing that he was likely to be caught in the painful reach of her thorns. the chime dropped from her grip, as she turned sharply on a heel towards him. )

You need to be more careful! What were you thinking?

( or as anyone else might have said, "are you okay?" )

[ Alphen grits his teeth together and closes his eyes when he sees her thorn curse activating. It's fine. He'll live, this is nothing. He isn't backing away or changing his position. ]

Sorry, Shionne. Did you get hurt?

[ He's way more concerned about her now that he knows the thorns are still there.]

You can tell me what's on your mind.

( she scoffed, having to look away, and taking a half-step back, the thorns fading into the ether.
it was just like him to be more concerned about her well being than his own... )

Don't worry about me.

( of course the curse had followed her to this world too. it shouldn't have been a surprise, with how often it plagued her in her dreams... but, alphen was here too. and somehow, that made it all easier to digest.

by the time she turned back towards him, shionne can only hope that the burning in her cheeks has subsided. she quickly looked him over, seeing if any of the damage she'd done required some healing.
honestly, though? he already knew all of her secrets, all the horrible truths she had kept hidden from everyone... and, just like now, he still stood there, unflinching.
quietly, shionne cleared her throat. she really had nothing left to hide, except... )

I was just thinking that...

( what? what could it be that she was ready to reveal...? )

If I ring the chime, maybe you could grab a few handfuls.

( oh. )

[ It's hard for Alphen to not worry about her. His expression sinks as he frowns slightly. All he can really do is stand next to her and observe how she's doing. This isn't much. Alphen feels like he should be doing a lot more to care for Shionne. Her throns caused her so much agony and suffering. Sometimes he didn't even realize just how bad it was until it was too late. So that's why Alphen quietly waits for Shionne hoping she'll find it in her to talk. Wait what.

He was expecting something a bit more serious or dreary. It's about food again. Of course. ]

You can count on me. I'll get as much as I can carry. Ring the chime whenever you're ready.

[ He insists on holding her hand. Alphen will just...casually ignore any discomfort he may feel by doing so.]

Edited (Autocorrect strikes back) 2021-10-26 22:58 (UTC)

( she bent at the knee to grab the chime again, and when she stood back up, looking it over... her eyes widened as she realized that somewhere within that time, alphen had taken ahold of her hand. )

You...

( it had to be agonizing. the crackle of dark magic was alive between them as she looked down, knowing that she should let go to spare him, but... she found herself squeezing back gently into his grip, instead. )

I know.

( she can count on him. for the first time ever, she was ready to let herself believe that. )

Thank you, Alphen... ( and then, maybe just a little quiter: ) For everything.

( oh, there comes that rush of colour to her cheeks again.
they were, um... still talking about cotton candy, right?? )

You don't have to thank me for anything. I'm not doing much.

[ He's not doing anything deserving of thanks. Shionne had been fighting alone for so long. Alphen wants to make sure she doesn't have to feel that way ever again. His grip tightens and there's some strength behind it too. Maybe she'll notice there's no trace of fear or anguish in his eyes. ]

We're in this together, Shionne.

[ Apparently they were still talking about the sheep moments before, but Alphen is lost in thought and he'd completely forgotten about anything insignificant. He's only focusing on Shionne and how she might feel. ]

( gah!! the way he just so casually...!
didn't he realize how...?!
how could she not just—!!

but she did look into those eyes. despite the pain he must be enduring, just to stand here with her like this... not a hint of it was to be seen there. it was only the same calm, understanding gaze that had been there since the beginning. )

Le... let's get to work then! We don't want them to get away, so—

( shionne is trying hard to stay on task, despite those sweet words, okay?!
and not just because the promise of food was involved, it was just... something to focus on to try and forget that warm flush in her cheeks. )

Here goes nothing.

( with her free hand, she dangles the charm in the air, ringing it softly at first, then with added fervor for the sound to carry.
it definitely... didn't sound like your typical chime, that's for sure. )

[ It seems like Alphen is just completely lost within his own thoughts until Shionne speaks up again. Right. They've got another task to do. The sound of the chime is a little odd but this is a dream world. Maybe it doesn't have to make sense. If this really is a realm of dreams then they should be able to dream of a much more peaceful world. Alphen knows it's not going to be that simple and difficulties await them. He thinks it'll be okay as long as they have each other.

He waits for the sheep to get closer before grabbing them. Supposedly you can eat them so maybe Shionne wants to try it?

]

Take this. I'll try and get more of them.

[ Casually passing her the sheep. It is very cute and fluffy. Soft. ]

( she finally relinquished the grip on his hand once he reached up, reminding herself to lower her heart rate with a few deep breaths. )

They really do seem to like it.

( oh no. it's staring at her.
oh no!! it's tilted its cute little head to the side.
what chance did she ever stand against such a formidable foe?

with a bit of hesitation, she reached out— but the dark, prickly magic started to crack to life, again. )

I'll stick with the chime. Do... Could you grab some for me?

[ Another look of concern makes its way to Alphen's face. He thinks it's unfair that Shionne can't hold things or touch anyone. The prickly thorns and magic that spurs in the air are ever-present. He remembers how the other Dahnans said that coming into contact with those thorns was the same as being struck by lightning. Alphen's not scared of it. ]

You don't even have to ask.

[ He's going around rounding up sheep. There are so many of them that he's finding it hard to even walk. Please imagine Alphen being buried under a pile of sheep that's exactly what's happening. ]

( there's a grateful look in shionne's eye as he says that.
alphen was always so reliable...

but when he gets to work, so does she! she's making sure the chime is ringing but by the time several sheep start descending upon him, the music she was making slows considerably.
there were so many of them, coming down... burying alphen underneath their sweet, soft floof...

oh god, they're so cute. and he's nearly trapped underneath them... this was really bad for the heart! )

A-are you still okay in there?

I'm fine!!! Sorry to worry you, Shionne.

[ The sheep won't leave him alone now. There are so many of them that Alphen can't even see what's happening anymore. Thankfully the sheep don't appear to be aggressive and they're just overwhelming him with fluff. Alphen just tries his best to group them together so they won't obscure his vision and make it difficult for him to move. He might have this sheep thing under control. Maybe. ]

I don't recall there being any sheep like this back at the ranch.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

cotton candy sheep

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