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

[Well if someone wasn't so eternally Nagging then she'd ease up a little. But that's not going to happen! So Jude should just suck it up. Maybe she should adopt this sheep and use it to keep Jude in line. For every time he nags, the sheep will munch his hair. Can't get any messier looking, right?

Sheep thoughts aside, Leia casts a look of mild surprise at Jude. Blinking. Like maybe she's putting some pieces together in her head.]

Huh? So they really do use emotions? Hm. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't completely sure, but now when I think back to something Alvin said, it does make sense. [like how he kept telling her to stay calm during the ox cart race.] Well, what I do know is that it has nothing to do with any innate ability. My friend here is from a world without spirit artes, and he's able to use it. That being said, what I'm saying is that while we could definitely use a clinic here, it's also best to gain some useful dreamotion abilities since dreamscapes can last for a while. The last one was around for a whole week.

[Dreamotion might not rely on mana lobes or anything like that, of course, but there are others that grasp it faster than others.]

It's hearsay until we have more concrete proof, and checking in with other people is probably the closest we can get. Not being tied to anything innate is great news, and I do intend on giving it a shot myself soon. How's your experience with dreamotion been like so far, Leia? Can you tell me more about your friend who can use it, too? I'd like to ask him about his learning curve with it, if that's alright with you both. [That's a perfectly nerdy, valid, and Jude-ish reason, for better or worse.]

I may be getting ahead of myself with the idea of a clinic right now, but it shouldn't hurt to plan ahead. There must be others with medical knowledge, experience, and powers who also ended up here, so we could maybe get something communal going? But I probably should prepare myself better first, learn to at least replicate Healer and Recovery Ring with dreamotion. Are there any spacious and empty buildings in town we could use for one, by the way?

[...Jude really did end up asking about potential clinic space before figuring out where he may be sleeping for the night, yes. She's not surprised, right?]

[It's great that he's enthusiastic and all, but priorities. That and there's no telling how long Jude will be around for...]

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down! Let's at least get you situated first, all right? Jeez. Just listening to you ramble is exhausting. [she slumps her shoulders and sighs before continuing on with the next... topic.] As for my friend, funny thing is, he actually taught me how to make cake. I'm not really sure what else he knows, though. But if you want, I could take you to see him tomorrow? Or you could contact him through the journals.

[Suddenly, she regrets opening her mouth about her friend this soon. Yeah. So. She is actually dropping off some gifts for him later today. After they get this sheep back to the farm. But no way is she letting Jude tag along for something potentially embarrassing.

Not that it should be embarrassing??? She's just dropping off a few 'thank you' gifts. There's nothing embarrassing about that at all! But Marui might say something stupid, spirits only know, and that's precisely the sort of thing Jude doesn't need to hear. Stupid, Marui.]

Situated? [...] Oh, right, sure. ...Sorry.

[make... cake.

He blinks once.

Dreamotion cakes, huh? 🤔]

He's your friend, and it's my request. I'll go with whatever you two prefer. Can you ask him? We should give him a heads-up too, if we're going to visit him tomorrow.

[Because knowing Leia being Leia, odds were high that she'd tell him this, not let her friend know at all, and just drag Jude along to his door first thing tomorrow morning without any prior notice.

...Speaking of which, just to be safe:]

What's his name, for reference?

Yeah, yeah, I'll let him know. [five whole minutes before they show up, IF he's lucky.] His name's Marui.

[Also ignoring the fact that she could probably tell him when she drops by, also unannounced, later. But that all depends, since she has other things on her mind.

Anyway, today so far is turning out to be complicated...

Luckily, the farm is just up ahead- it can clearly be seen in the distance.]

Now, c'mon, the sooner we return this sheep, the sooner we can get you settled in then filled in.

[And, yes, in that order.]

[Marui, huh? Better warn him in (the highly probable) case that Leia doesn't, he'll do that once they split up later.]

Okay, okay. You know far more about all this than me, so I'll be in your care. [He may have sounded a little flat there, but he's straightening himself nevertheless.

...

The pause was brief, but it was there all the same.]

Let me know if I can help you with anything here too, Leia. I'll try to get used to things as quickly as I can.

[That said, he takes his eyes off her and diverts his gaze back straight ahead. She must already know, and he knows that she knows, but it felt important to say that out loud all the same. They're in this together now, after all, no matter what ups and downs Leia went through before he got here. No sense moping over what he's missed when there's plenty ahead that he can focus on, and the change of scenery hasn't changed the least bit what's important to him or his drive to do what he can in his immediate present.

Lead the way, Leia!]

{ test drive #02 - november 2021 }

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