songerein | { test drive #02

Entry tags:

{ 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

Yeah, I know what you mean. It can be unpredictable sometimes but the people here are really nice!

That's one of the good things about this place. [Every person that Nier has encountered here has been pleasant or forthcoming. It's completely different from his own world where people had been driven by fear. ]

Did you find anyone you recognize yet?

[His own familiar faces have been kind of a mix, but he can't find much reason to complain ~~mostly because he hasn't met the one trying to kill him yet~~.]

I have.

[That's little surprise; if he is indeed dreaming, wouldn't significant figures in his own life be present? But what's struck him is that there are far more that he doesn't know—and people who certainly couldn't be from London, whether he'd recognize them or not.]

The same can be said for you, I assume.

Of course! It's a little strange though. I saw my friend here, but we don't remember the same things. Have no clue how that's working out.

[ The inconsistencies and lack of information otherwise is cause for concern. Nier doesn't even know why people remember things differently or how it could relate to this otherwise bizzare dream world. ]

Hopefully everything turned out okay on your end.

[Mismatched memories? That sounds... hmm. His brow furrows a fraction more.]

How strange. [Still,] I've had no issues with my acquaintances.

[yet]

Nevertheless, I'm sure I'll discover much else to be surprised by. [Like the tea that's making him way more talkative than usual, when that wears off.]

For sure! Things aren't always the way they seem. It would have helped if things were a lot more simple, but they aren't.

[So they must deal with it somehow. Nier's trying his best to manage despite these strange circumstances. ]

You aren't hurt anywhere, are you?

[Barok's gaze turns to Nier, slightly narrowed, and while it's not nearly as sharp as it could be, there's a more serious awareness there as he answers.]

Were I in need of medical attention, I wouldn't be wasting my time in a teahouse. [And the scar across his brow at least proves that he's no stranger to being wounded.] Is there some reason you ask?

That's a good point. At least you're doing well.

[Nier curiously tilts his head forward and then puts his finger on his chin.]

I was afraid that you might feeling off or even disoriented because everything here's so new. When I first arrived it was bad on me.

As bizarre as this has been thus far, the broad form of it has been familiar enough. [A fairy-tale European sort of village, like that of any story he was told as a child. He's likely had similar dreams in the past, though perhaps without the mismatched people from other worlds.]

It is nothing I find myself... disturbed by.

[for now! :)]

Was there a particular aspect you had difficulty with?

You'll be fine then. I think you'll be able to manage it on your own.

[Nier looks up at that question and then pauses. He takes in a deep breath before replying.]

I never experienced night or sunsets before I came here. To say I was surprised would be an understatement.

What?

[No night?? Van Zieks is so taken aback that it physically shows, eyes widening with a few blinks and arm raised slightly. The idea of such a thing has never even crossed his mind, let alone examined in any detail or considered as a possibility.]

I... cannot imagine. [He has so many questions, with more coming to mind as the seconds pass.] How do you decide when to sleep?

We sleep when the sun's still out. That wasn't unusual for anyone back in my world. After a long day you would just get ready for bed.

[....Does it sound weird to sleep when the sun's up? It was a perfectly normal scene back in his place. ]

What time do you usually sleep at?

Never before dark... and I typically rise with the sun.

[He's a busy man with probably an unhealthy work ethic. His question still wasn't really answered—how do you even define a day when there's no movement of the sun to orient yourself to?—but he knows his curiosity might not actually be worth pursuing. Everything must be so different.]

I begin to see why that would be difficult to adjust to.

Wait really? I guess you must have already been used to living with a normal day and night.

[....He still doesn't understand how proper cycles are supposed to work. Maybe he has it backwards in his head.]

Everyone in my world kind of just slept after a full day. Although, now that I think about it...the word "Day" probably meant something else for us back there. I heard there used to be a proper cycle years ago, but it's been lost to time.

Time can be really strange. Maybe you can tell me more about your world.

[All Barok can say about that is... for all he dislikes the cold, he's glad he doesn't have to deal with living in a place where the sun never sets. He lets out a breath at the question, shaking his head.]

I admit I'm at a loss as to what I might even share.

[There's far too much in a world to simply pick something out to put on display for an outsider, he feels. Where does one start? After a moment of contemplation, a sip of his tea, and a brief hum to mark his thoughts, he attempts:]

My home of London is the capital of the British Empire. As such, we have the privilege of seeing a great deal of trade and travel through our city. It can be aggravating at times, due to the noise and crowding... but it's proven enlightening on a number of occasions.

You're from a huge empire!! That's really interesting. It seems like you have a lot of things to do there. Doesn't it ever feel overwhelming?

[ London sounds massive to someone like Nier. He's grown accustomed to the quiet village life so trying to imagine a bustling city with people helps him put things in perspective. ]

With so many people around and places to see I'd feel lost.

Perhaps when I was a child, and I first experienced the city proper. My family's estate seemed distant from the chaos at the time.

[They're details he probably wouldn't disclose without the aid of the tea, but true nonetheless. Perhaps this young man's enthusiasm is a little charming in its own way, too.]

You would hardly be the first. Even the residents tend to keep to their own neighborhoods unless they have particular business elsewhere.

The world always seems so much more bigger when you're just a kid.

[Nier's only starting to become an adult now so he still remembers his childhood quite well. There's always something new for him to learn or some other place for him to see. Perhaps learning and discovery isn't something that's particularly restricted to age. Everyone has their own things to work on.]

I imagine everyone's busy with work or whatever else that needs to be done. It might be different for you here though.

"Different" would be... understating it, I feel.

[What are they going to do, start a dream-judicial system? Not to mention the police necessary to enforce such things.]

I'll have to actively search for ways to pass the time, should I remain here very long. Even putting aside my work, the things that take up my time tend to require particular resources.

[But enough about him!]

What of you? In two months, you must have found something to occupy yourself.

For sure, I've found things to keep myself busy with. Half of the time I was just trying to adjust to everything going on.

[ He's not even used to seeing this many people outside during the day. His world was very desolate and empty by comparison. ]

If I wasn't doing that I would be outside working with the plants and gardens. We need to care for nature too. Would you happen to know anything about gardening?

[There's no denying that it's a practical skill, growing plants for consumption or medicine or suchlike, and even more ornamental leanings are a respectful pastime, he feels.

But as far as Barok himself? Well, it might be a stretch.]

I'm familiar with the cultivation of grapes, to a degree. But I can't say I've planted or grown anything myself.

Grapes can be used for a lot of things. I know people sometimes refine and process them for drinks. You can even just eat them as it is.

[ Grapes are great. Nier finds himself nodding. ]

I've grown all sorts of things like vegetables and flowers. Recently I've planted some pumpkins.

The former is what draws my interest, mainly.

[Ask him about wine any day—okay, don't, he'll talk your ear off.]

I don't suppose you've seen much in the way of a harvest here, in so short a time.

You mean drinks? What kind of drinks do you like, Van Zieks?

[ Nier's mostly asking out of curiosity. ]

Growing things normally takes a long time, yeah. It's actually not too bad if you use dreamotion to harvest plants.

Typically red wines.

[Assuming Nier is staying on topic with the grapes. ... even if he is asking more generally, though, the answer would mostly be the same. There's a distinct lack of recognition in his expression when Nier utters the word dreamotion, though.]

If you use what?

[Sure, he half-listened to the strange aardvark pigs, but that doesn't mean he processed any of it. He spent most of that tutorial wrapping his mind around talking animals.]

Dreamotion. It's kinda like magic I guess??? You can even use it to make red wine if you want.

[Nier doesn't have too much trouble with it because he had plenty of time to grow accustomed to magic back in his world. The concept of using dreamotion abilities isn't strange to him either.]

Does it sound crazy?

{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

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