{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

[dreamposts]

✵ 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.

Comments

[roseofmay]

[A culmination of their thoughts, Beatrix assumes, faced alongside an animated plush cat with the doors they've managed to create. To her, it's not a complete surprise.]

Hm. Interesting.

[Thought can manifest into flesh. Just how far can that go? Plenty of wars in history could have been finished quickly with merely a thought or two. Even Beatrix can see the practicality in such an ability, even if she isn't especially comfortable with it.

She moves from where she stands, her steps heavy and with intention until she can approach the doors in question. It's with a surprising amount of reverence that she lifts a hand and splays fingertips against the wood.]

It is certainly real enough. [Touch moves down to ornate handle, eye passing over the extra details which surely must have come from him, for she would not have considered Alexandria's to be so grandiose.] Seems we are still barred passage, however. Perhaps we are being tested.

[...But she doesn't know how to pass a trial that she doesn't fully understand. Beatrix casts a look over her shoulder to her feline companion, gauging his reaction.]

[discourtesies]

[Comfortable with the idea or not, it may end up being something they'll have to adapt to if they truly want to proceed in any meaningful fashion in this world, even outside this twisted toy house. As it turns out, Barok especially will find need to turn to it for protection, as lacking in magical ability as he is.

The squeak of his footsteps as he approaches doesn't quite match the gravity of his tone, unfortunately.]

This experience was meant as a test to begin with, I believe.

[Like her, he has no solid concept for what they're meant to be doing here. Even so...]

I have the impression it won't be as simple as imagining a corresponding key.

[roseofmay]

Much to my dismay, I find myself inclined to agree with you.

[And it really does stick right in her that she actually has to cooperate. Beatrix looses a sigh, which is heavy with the weight of her disdain. His approach draws her attention back over and down to him. As she turns, a hand settles back atop her hip.]

The door was likely the simplest part of our little... excursion here. A locked door tends to be a sign that we have found our way to a place we do not belong. I suspect that rule does not apply here.

[Of course, that's the soldier in her speaking. Beatrix has always respected a locked door, and in the world of nobility and courtly mannerisms, there are no shortage of locked doors.]

Or we consider the grandest key we can think of. Doing that, however, may leave us with a plethora of keys and very few of them to actually fit. I am more inclined to simply find a way to break down the door.

[Inclined toward this, but knowing that her sword will be useless in this state.]

[discourtesies]

[Breaking it down certainly isn't the worst idea he's heard, and he certainly won't make any attempts to stop her if she decides to try it. Unfortunately, in his current state, he won't be very good for brute force, even should he put his all into it.]

It is true there is more than one way to get past a door.

[Philosophy isn't his strongest point, so more practical methods are what come to mind first: breaking it down, as she suggests; picking the lock, as that consulting detective undoubtedly would. When it comes to doors not yet open to him, Barok would personally be inclined towards acquiring the key without the owner's knowledge, but he has few resources here and certainly no spies to gather keys for doors he's just imagined into existence.

... They imagined the door, though. One of the toy's ears tilts as he ponders their predicament.]

But perhaps we are still thinking too literally.

[roseofmay]

How is a door not to be interpreted literally?

[Beatrix shakes her head. He's spouting nonsense again. Kind of. He had a point before, which implies that he probably has a point this time, too. Folding her arms across her chest, she does very little to disguise the lack of amusement in her expression. This is all a bit much.

Why can't she just use her sword for everything.]

It is not as though the trial is to simply imagine the door opening.

[If that's it, Beatrix is going to be so angry.]

[discourtesies]

[Oh? That certainly is an idea. His head turns towards her curiously, ears perking up in lieu of eyebrows. Can it really be classified as nonsense if their entire experience right now is nonsense?]

What have we to lose by trying?

[His pride has already been crushed by virtue of becoming a toy, so.]

[roseofmay]

I... suppose that is true.

[She just had to open her mouth, didn't she. She suggested it and now they have to do it. Perhaps that's part of the reason that Brahne's never much given her an opportunity to speak up. Because there's no point in her doing so. Because she has no place to be doing so.

...Not that Beatrix is necessarily a fan of that approach. She has a great many opinions that she's simply not shared.]

It is not as though our time here is terribly precious. Do nothing and wither away, or make the attempt and make no progress forward.

[It's a stupid thing to picture, she thinks, but it's not hard to think of how many times she's pressed on double doors and had them give way beneath her firm touch. But there's also the matter of the lock. Is the door locked truly, or is it only locked by way of the imagination? What is the true test in this cursed dollhouse of horrors?]

[discourtesies]

[Believe in yourself and your ridiculous suggestions, madam, and you may find that you succeed a surprising amount of the time! Barok wouldn't be where he is today if he didn't allow a few ideas that seemed ridiculous at the outset to play out, after all.]

It's better to have tried, I believe.

[And so, he turns his own thoughts that way as well. The entrance to his family's estate, hearing the turn of the latch as a servant opens the door for his return... the creak of the old hinges, however polished they may be. But there is something more to the experience, isn't there? The sensation of moving from one space to another—the change of atmosphere, from formal to informal, outside to inside, unsafe to safe. He tries not to let himself be distracted by the question of whether they'll succeed—as belief in their efforts may be yet another piece of the puzzle.]

[roseofmay]

[...

It's an age-old saying. it's better to have tried and failed than not to try at all. Beatrix isn't sure she agrees with that either. Logic dictates that yes, it is. Pride, on the other hand, has a firm grasp on her, takes her right by the proverbial shoulders and gives her that inner shake, a reminder that failure is not an option. But how much of that is pride and how much of that is her queen?

Beatrix doesn't bother to address him, thinking it wiser to say nothing at all than to outright debate. She has no time to be debating with stuffed cats, anyway. Even... if he's not actually a cat at all. Instead, she watches him, thinking he is likely far better at this kind of nonsense than she is. If they fail to get through, it will likely be her doing.

What was she just thinking about failure again—

When he's distracted with his own thoughts, Beatrix rests a temple to the door they've found and she simply thinks. Ten years before she entered the doors to the castle foyer in celebration of her knighthood. In the years between then and the present, the footsteps of her boots have echoed in the grand entryway on flooring that is less fine than marble, but greater than mere cold, unwelcoming masonry. There she has been greeted by Brahne. By a younger, easily excitable Garnet who has oft stirred Beatrix from her icy prison. By her subordinates who have greeted her with admiration and fear alike. By Steiner, a man who would surely be handling much of this with...

No. He wouldn't. His excessively passionate heart would have him in a lack of composure. And yet a familiar face would not be horrid, even if it's a face she doesn't care to see.

There is the subtle click of catching mechanism failing and Beatrix slowly draws herself back up, eyeing the door suspiciously.]

...Hm. Was that it?

[discourtesies]

[His ears perk at the sound of the lock, and he draws himself out of his musings to examine the door properly. Was it, indeed? There's only one way to find out, as nothing external has changed.

He gestures towards the handles with a simplified paw, only slightly less sarcastically this time.]

Perhaps you could check. [Unless she just really wants to see a torn toy cat try to open that sturdy portal they've created... Though again, maybe the effort and intent would be enough even for his less sturdy form to be of use.]

[roseofmay]

[...

Right. Because he's a cat and cats can't open doors. Even in dreamscapes, apparently. Defeats the purpose of using the imagination, doesn't it? Beatrix has some complaints she'd like to file with the local authorities about how absurd all of this is.

For several moments, she simply looks at him, as unimpressed with their current position in this venture as she was when it all began, but she issues a soft little scowl that fades into nothingness before she draws hand over handle and with a gentle push, surprising for a woman who seems so hard, it gives way beneath the pressure.]

Eidolons be damned.

[Drawing in a breath, she pulls the door open for him and folding her other arm across her in an undeniable flourish that she can't seem to separate herself from, she waves him in.]

Unless you see something that frightens you, we ought to take our leave. I have had quite enough of dolls and cursed objects for a lifetime. I doubt you wish to be a cat forever.

[discourtesies]

[Look, he still has some pride—and when she's clearly capable of opening a door and he might struggle an embarrass himself, he'd really rather not risk the latter.

Once the portal has opened, he only takes a moment to appreciate that fact before his squeaky footsteps bring him closer to it. Before heading through, however, he removes his top hat and bows at the waist to show his gratitude(?).]

May our next meeting involve less... childish circumstances.

[The hat returns to its perch between its ears as he heads through. For the love of god, please let this bring him back to that semi-waking world where he's a normal height again.]

[roseofmay]

[If she were a different type of woman, she might find the whole imagery of the situation amusing. She's as stone-faced as she was when all of this began, but... Maybe there's something very deep down inside of her not completely full of disdain.

A curiosity lingers in her. Their next meeting. Assuming they will have one. Why would he even want one? Crossing paths with Beatrix is not usually a positive thing.]

Perhaps it will be, then.

[Although she doubts it. This is probably only the first of many childish circumstances.

But at least he gets to be a man again. And at least she was never a doll to begin with.]