songerein | { test drive #02

✵ 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

[Oh, right. These have magical effects, don't they? After a pause, Hilda shrugs and takes another sip of juice.]

Suit yourself. But you should definitely come back later and give it a try.

[Although even without it, there's something about his demeanor that's rather sunshine-y. So maybe it would end up being too much?]

Anyway, you're a face I haven't seen before. Are you new?

It’s on my list.

[ A list that’s growing longer by the moment, it seems. Good thing they have these weird journal things, or he’d never be able to keep track of it all. ]

That’s right. I’m Thoma. It’s nice to meet you!

Nice to meet you, Thoma. I'm Hilda.

[She beams at him, which is only partially because of the effects of her drink. Look, she's not blind--he's cute, and there's a certain charm about him.]

Need someone to show you around? I've been here a couple of months now, so I can help you get your bearings.

Really? If you don’t mind, that would be fantastic!

[ How lucky is he to stumble across someone a bit more experienced than himself! He really does want to get the lay of the land as quickly as possible. ]

Do you have any advice about getting settled here? There’s so much I don’t even know where to start.

Of course I don't mind! [She links arms with him.] You'll find that I am an excellent tour guide.

My best advice is to pick a treehouse that's already been cleaned out. This place was a mess when we first got here, and there were giant bugs and everything. It was gross.

[ O-oh. Thoma stiffens just a bit when her arm loops around his, if only because he’s so unused to casual contact. Most Inazumans would frown on that kind of display, especially having just met, but he finds her casual approach somewhat nice and he relaxes soon enough. It puts him in mind of Mondstadt, which is never really a bad thing. ]

We get to stay in treehouses? That sounds amazing! Oh, and I don’t mind a bit of cleaning.

Not thrilled about the giant bugs, though.

[Hilda almost unwinds herself from his arm in response to the way he stiffens, but he relaxes soon enough that she ultimately chooses not to. Good to know he's not a stick in the mud about these kinds of things like some people she knows. She can almost hear the lecture on ~proper noble behavior~ from Lorenz.]

Yeah! Some of them are up in the trees, but the best ones are inside the trees themselves. It's kind of like a fairy tale, now that we've settled in.

[Bugs and dirt aside, of course.]

I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to clean in the future, if that's your thing. We're kind of building this place up as we go.

[ If nothing else, Thoma is good at going with the flow. If he can keep track of an endless web of trade, politics, and personal problems across Inazuma, surely here he can keep track of individual preference when it comes to interaction. ]

Treehouses really do sound like something out of a fairytale. I’m excited to see them! But… when you say you’re building this place up, were there not many people here before?

[If anything, a flirty teenager is probably a nice change of pace.]

No, there weren't. It was all wild and overgrown when the first group of us got here a few months ago. Before that, it was all fairies and whatever. And giant bugs.

That’s so strange. I wonder if this place was always abandoned or if people used to live here before.

[ That mystery, however, will have to wait. He tucks it away as something to look into in his own time. ]

Sorry, I know I didn’t ask for a history lesson. Thanks for answering my questions.

[Hilda tilts her head as she considers the question.]

You know, I haven't given any thought to it. But something had to build the beginnings of what's here, right? I don't think it was the fairies who were squatting here before...

[Huh. Well, nothing to be done about it now--it's not like either of them have the answer.]

And you're welcome. It's nice to chat with someone new, regardless of the topic.

[She smiles up at him and gives him a wink.]

[ Thoma isn't dense - he knows how to read people, and he knows when someone's flirting with him. He assumes it's pretty harmless for now so he just kind of rolls with it, laughing a bit. ]

Am I really that interesting?

Of course you are! This is the first time we've seen new faces since we all got here.

[Also, he's cute and nice. That's more important than interesting, as far as she's concerned.]

It's nice to have something shake things up that's not weird dream-y stuff.

Haha, I guess that’s fair.

[ He will take “cute and nice” over interesting as well. Really, at the end of the day, he just likes making people smile. ]

So, where to next, oh tour guide?

We can go window-shopping in the market! It'll be fun. ♥

[And she leads him off to the marketplace so that they can do just that. Eventually, she will also show him other important landmarks before letting him go.]

{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

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wrapping!