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

[He just laughs as he can save the explaining for when Rose is down. And the moment she lets go, he adjusts his position before holding his arms out to catch her with an oomph.]

Gotcha!

[Her hero of the day! ~~Especially since he didn't let her go splat.~~ After sitting a moment to catch her breath, she hops out of his arms with snappy salute.]

Whew, thanks for the save! I've had some pretty crazy dreams and nightmares, but this takes the cake! Gotta say, I wasn't expecting to run into you here, though.

[It makes her wonder who else might be hanging about. Hopefully not any of the less friendly hellion/daemons from home.]

Yeah, it can be pretty hard to believe, but this place is as real as any other world. Just also a dream...or something like that. I try not to think too much about it.

[A light chuckle before he realizes something she said.]

But wait—have we met before?

[Feels like he would remember someone like her...or wait, is this another one of those situations...?]

Trust me, I'm not about to. Already gave myself multiple headaches trying to wrap my head around it all.

[There always comes a point where you just have to throw your hands up and roll with life. Like now. Even though Rose has been through this song and dance before, she stares at him, trying to discern if he's pulling her leg... But no, it doesn't seem like it. Hence the exasperated groan as she drags a hand through her hair.]

Aw, man... Seriously? [So much for lucking out on finding someone to commiserate with.] Um, never mind. For what it's worth, I'm Rose.

Nice meeting you, Rose. Well, again, I guess in your case. Don't feel too bad about it, though, apparently I've traveled to a lot of different worlds since a few other people recognized me from there. I'm assuming that's the case with you.

So you already know about all that crap, huh? Guess you just happen to get around a lot! Saves me a lot of trouble, though. The whole "going home and coming back with new, missing, or no memories" thing also happened at the last weird place I was at.

But yeah, we kinda come from the same homeworld so we'd talked some before about weapons, hardheaded seraphim/malakhim and such. Nothing that's going to break my heart if you don't remember. [Hilarious as it might be to pose as a former girlfriend or whatever, she's not that mean.]

[Aaah a fellow weapons enthusiast! Can never have too many of those so Rose is already up in his books.]

Wait, so we're from the world? But...seraphim? Haven't heard that term before. And what was the world we were in before?

[One of these days they're gonna have to compare equipment and techniques! But for now it seems like a bit of dull exposition is in order.]

The last place was a city named Verens on a floating island. Back home the land I come from is one big continent referred to as Glenwood, though I know it was called something else before when it was a bunch of smaller ones. Seraphim were called malakhim back in the day, Five Lords with Maotelus at the top, yadda yadda. Pretty sure Zaveid and Eizen are antiques from that time?

[She's absolutely going to namedrop two of the oldest farts she knows just in case she's getting her seraphim history wrong.]

[....What. Wait, wait, what.]

...Gonna take this one at a time. You know both Zaveid and Eizen in our world? But you called them antiques? I mean I know they're pretty old already, but with that everything else you mentioned, you make it sound like....

[...?]

Are you from the future of my time or something?

[LOOK HE DOES HAVE BRAIN sometimes (okay more times just a question on whether he listens to it—)]

[Well, she can hardly blame him for getting a bit overwhelmed. The first time someone had spewed similar crap at her, it sounded pretty unbelievable. And her explanation kinda sucked.]

Oh, didn't I mention that? I know Zaveid - and Eizen's sister - from back home, then met the elder earth sibling during my last world-hopping trip. Er. I guess you could say I knew them both, but...

[How to put this...]

He wasn't in a chatty mood during our first encounter.

[It's tough to make conversation with a giant mythological lizard who's trying to devour your whole team.]

Okay I think this is...sort of making more sense, but that sounds like Eizen, haha. [Hmm.] So Eizen was also in the world I was in... It feels like he's always following me around because he was also in the two worlds I was apparently in.

One was with fairy tales, another something to do with emotions. Is the one we were all in one of them?

Does he have some kind of beef with you or is this another weird case of seraph-malakhim adopting people? ...actually, you know what, that's your all's business and I'm not sure I wanna know.

[She definitely doesn't want to hear if it's anything more than that, thanks. Better they get all this different world stuff sorted out first anyway.]

The world where we were all stuck at? It's the one with emotional bullsh-- [wait just a flippin' second] There's more than one?!

[DON'T DO THIS TO HER, SHE WAS JUST STARTING TO MAYBE MAKE SENSE OF A FEW THINGS!!]

Probably his curse.

[Just a smirk before he kind of laughs at Rose. HE KIND OF GAVE UP TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT AND HAS JUST BEEN ROLLING WITH IT.]

Right? It was weird to think about at first, but if you think about it, there's probably a bunch out there. I mean, if the world you were in existed and this one does, who's to say there can't be more? Kind of cool to think about.

Starting to think he's not the only cursed one. Maybe it can rub off...

[Except rather than being the result of a certain seraph, she's convinced this is all Sorey's fault. She had a nice, mostly normal life bumping people off until his Shepherdness had to come along and reveal the world (now apparently plural) is full of scary, freaking happenings she can't wrap her head around. She's so gonna affectionately kick his ass if he ever shows up here.]

I will give you that it's kinda neat and maybe hope-inspiring in the right circumstances, but damn if I get how any of it's supposed to work! Guess that's life though. No use sweating what we can't change, right?

Sometimes I think so.

[Though usually it's around Eizen still...]

But yeah, I gave up pretty early on trying to understand it. Not like it matters, right? Just have to deal with what's in front of us, and this world is pretty cool on its own.

You sound like my old man. Not that I'm disagreeing. It sure beats some other places I can think of, even with pain in the butt farm animals.

[She glances at the sheep she'd accosted now lazily returning to earth in the distance. ...yeah, she'd take this kookiness compared to battlefields during a war or oppressive hellion domains.]

Still would be nice if all these worlds could agree on some ground rules. My own artes still work, but I dunno about my Squire powers. It'd be a hell of a thing to learn mid-fight that you can't use all your skills!

Guess I'm like, my artes work without issue. Then again, most of my skills are just on my sword so it wouldn't too much of a loss if they couldn't.

But what are..."Squire" powers? Powers to help serve a knight or something?

Same with me. Though it'd suck to lose the elemental element and the ability to lay traps.

[Which she totally didn't try on the sheep or anything, no sir.]

And I guess that's one way of putting it! There's this figure called a Shepherd who is kinda like a knight of the seraphim that goes around purifying the land of malevolence, and I'm basically his sidekick.

...Aaaaah, right Shepherd. Think Artorius was called that before. So that's still going on in your time?

Yup! Supposedly there used to be a bunch of Shepherds working at the same time at some point in history, but it's just Sorey now. That's part of why I decided to help him out. It's a lot for one guy and a tiny group of seraphim to handle.

And seraphim are what you call the malakhim? I'm guessing it's more of a cooperative thing in the future compared to how it is for me.

Edited 2021-11-15 00:30 (UTC)

Yeah, dunno how or why they went from malak to seraph other than the usual progression in language.

[At least nobody can hem and haw about the -him part? Though the rest of what Rokurou says piques her curiosity.]

How's it work when you're from? Does your Shepherd guy not operate the way I described?

[Ah ha...]

Not at all. It was more of a coercive pact, with the exorcists subduing the malakhim to work with them to fight against daemons. Towards the end of our journey they were able to split off, but some still liked the idea of working together so I think they were thinking about forming alliances with the ones who were actually into the whole "helping people" instead of just the power trip. Didn't really keep up with it, though. Maybe Eizen knows more about it. If Eleanor were here she'd be able to tell you more about the whole Shepherd and Abbey thing since I'm pretty sure she got more involved with that.

[...Speaking of, now that he looks at Rose, they kind of resemble each other a little bit. Maybe it's the hair?]

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{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

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