dagung | TDM: January

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* tdm

TDM: January

Test Drive: January

All threads can be considered game canon,

the prompts and test drive itself will be

• Reserves Open Today! If you're interested in securing a spot, put one in! We accept applications without reserves too, of course. Reserves will expire three days before the end of the application period, on the 28th.
• Applications Open The 24th! These will last until the end of the month, the 31st, with the intro log going up on February 1st. The application page can be found here. As a reminder, this will be our last uncapped application round!
• If you have any questions about the game or the world, please refer to the FAQ page; if you still have questions, feel free to ask them! For questions specific to the test drive, please ask them on the appropriate thread.
• For the purposes of the test drive, your character will have access to all magics taught by the Coven if they're a Witch, and as much of their shifted form as you'd like if they're a Monster. Feel free to play around and experiment with each!
• Test drive threads can be used as samples for your applications!

You feel like you're floating. Around you, colors and sounds and smells swirl as if trapped in a whirlpool, vibrancy and hue ever shifting. The more you watch them, the less solid they are; they only become clear out of the corner of your eye. The area around you begins to feel more solid as well, until your feet are on the ground, the wind brushes playfully against your face -

and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.

The Prehistoric Wilde

Thick summer heat hangs heavy over the uninfected landscape like a damp blanket, smothering. The jungle around you is thick and wet, full of the sounds of chittering animals and the high-pitched drone of insects. The flora and fauna are like nothing you've ever seen before, large and alien in colors and shapes, though they bear no signs of the Cwyld. Flowers the size of a man's head and brightly colored in rainbow hues curl their tendrils invitingly, and giant mosquitoes buzz through the air seeking a meal. You can barely see the glow of the twin moons through the thick canopy above. There are no signs of civilization - at least, not the civilization most will be used to; only the distant sound of the river, compelling you to follow its winding path. But will you go forward, or will you go back?

Rumble in the Jungle
Making headway through the jungle at night is a chore. The foliage grows thick and the humid heat is oppressive for even those who enjoy the warmth. There are no clear paths here, no easy way through. The canopy of the ancient trees far, far over your head is just as dense, but the faintest moonlight filters through the holes left by the huge leaves in stippling patterns across the musty forest floor. 'Large' seems to be the theme - lining whatever path you pick your way through, there are pitcher plants massive enough to swallow a grown man, with small animals and giant insects being digested down inside the sticky liquid that fills them. The flowers are as big as a man's head, and come in a rainbow of colors, their venomous tendrils curling toward signs of life. The trunks of some of the trees are as thick as houses, and shade the ground beneath them with leaves like umbrellas. The hand-sized mosquitoes thrive in the sticky heat and if not killed first, can make off with a full pint of blood from an unsuspecting person.

At some point in your journey, the ground begins to rumble beneath your feet. The farther you go, the longer you walk, the more signs of life become visible: thick, winding trails of crushed foliage, huge, animalistic footprints in the mud. Luckily, to this world, you are small and insignificant, and may escape the notice of the local Monsters - the massive, prehistoric ancestors of today's Monsters.

They seem like giants, colossal Titanoboa Nagas with hollow fangs like swords, towering Fauns with the lower halves of mammoths, sabertooth Turnskins, pterodactyl Harpies with leathery wings. Even the parts of them that resemble humans (and they have far fewer human-like parts than their modern counterparts) are larger than any actual human being. They operate primarily on instinct, made even stronger by the full moons above, and perceive the strange new creatures as threats - or food.

Sticking to the river seems safest - at least until you run into megalodon Merrow, singing an alien, but alluring, song to draw in prey, or the apex predator of this prehistoric world - Dragons, bigger and scalier than the ones Mirrorbound may know, stopped to drink at the river. All other Monsters flee from the huge reptiles, lest they become food themselves. Luckily you can defend yourself with your new abilities, or your neat changes - you're small, but not totally helpless.

Interesting to note... while all other Monster types are represented, there are no Fae or Chimeras in the Wilde here, and the Vampires are more like huge bat-monsters that traverse the jungle on all fours than humanoid bloodsuckers.

The Natives
Going backward, away from the distant sounds of the sea and against the current of the river, leads you through dense jungle. How long have you traversed the landscape? Hours? Days? Time passes funny in dreams. Eventually the trees thin out, grow taller and less leafy, and the air becomes drier. Instead of loamy soil beneath your feet, you start to feel rocky, harder earth, and spot outcroppings of stone. The sun begins to rise, which makes it easier to spot people on the horizon, a little settlement coming to life in the morning, nestled where the river forks into two.

They're much hardier than the familiar people of Aefenglom, sunburned and dressed in natural, rough fabrics. Their homes, if one can call them that, are shoddy little structures made of sticks and leaves and mud, pressed up against the sturdiness of the stone formations. And, when they spot strangers approaching their village, they scramble for their weapons - crude clubs, stone axes, even just large rocks snatched up off the ground.

The translation magic works on them, thankfully. Their speech is halted and simple, but they get their point across. Tell them who you are, or they'll beat your brains in. Monsters might get their brains beat in anyway if they aren't careful, even though they're much smaller than the Monsters these humans are used to. And Witches? May the gods help you if you use magic in front of these terrified, unevolved people, lest they mistake you for a Fae (the word is whispered with fear and revulsion in their voices) and swarm you with simple iron tools. If you're an actual Fae, an obvious Fae? They'll whisk their children into their huts protectively and then run you right out of the village. Violently.

The truly observant, or those who can see through illusions, among you may notice something strange, though. Some Fae actually seem to live among them, heavily cloaked in natural illusions, with the primitive humans none the wiser. There are just a few, but all of them look young, twelve or thirteen at the oldest, and they are all scared of their secret coming to light. Fae who get caught tend to be burned at the stake around here.

The Invaders
Perhaps you chose to go forward, with the current and toward the distant sound of ocean waves, where the river pours into the sea. More long-time residents of Aefenglom may notice that the shoreline is familiarly-shaped, but wider, bigger, not yet worn down by thousands of years of erosion. There is no bustling Harbor, only the waves crashing on the rocks, small islands dotting the water near the shore. There is no Bright Wall - there is no city, even, only an expanse of beach transitioning gently into an idyllic grove dotted with gauzy, pointed tents, and a beautiful, gilded ship half sunk into the sandy earth.

It seems safer than the jungle, at first - until you notice all the Fae. They're more insectoid than the ones many are familiar with, with big, glittering eyes and either bright, jewel-toned wings like dragonflies or butterflies, or delicate, leafy wings in greens and browns. They're also taller than modern, lesser Fae, though not by much, and they're thin and angular, standing on spindly limbs that barely seem able to hold them.

Characters receive a warmer welcome here, by the band of true Fae that have made their camp in the grove, though the alien-looking beings have a tendency to treat them like toys, children, or both, cooing over their sizes and their magic.
"Look at the little Monsters! Aren't they cute!"
"We should make some of our own! And oh, the little humans have magic! Delightful!"
It's hard to have a conversation with one - they're condescending at best, and at worst, flit off to another entertainment out of boredom while you're mid-sentence.

And entertainments abound in their camp. They're served and tended to like emperors by collared humans - adults and young adults do the heavy labor, including pulling grand little chariots for transportation, though there are some highly-supervised human children running about fetching drinks and fanning their Fae masters with palm leaves.

Farther out, a large, deep pit has been dug out of the earth, ringed by a waist-high barrier of logs, a few Fae gathering at the barrier and leaning over, talking in conversational, happy voices. Down below, Chimera gladiators fight for their amusement, while the Fae keep up running commentary, discussing each warrior's chances, new breeding prospects, interesting crossbreeds their fellows have come up with ("She's trying an Arachne and a Turnskin together, how delightful!"). Trying to disrupt the proceedings will only result in the Fae turning their magic on you - illusions and curses, nasty little tricks. Sit down, silly little ones! The fight is just getting good! Or maybe... Maybe they'll toss you into the pit to see what your chances are in battle.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Akko watches her as she walks to the edge of the river, the lighting out here much better compared to the heart of the jungle that all she has to do is lean a little on an elbow to see what she's up to. Akko quickly sits up right once Fang stands up and heads back over, folding her hands neatly in her lap.]

[She wasn't doing anything. Don't worry about it.]

[Akko nods enthusiastically at the question, smiling wide and with pride.]

I'm a student a Luna Nova Magical Academy! [She laughs a little.] I wanted to go there because my idol went there when she was my age, but it's a world-famous school! Even people who aren't interested in magic have heard of it.

[Akko is... technically right, even if not for how she thinks. Fang gives her a mild, crooked smile.]

Yeah, I've heard of the place. [She kneels, wrapping the water-soaked sash around her ankle.] Water's not too cold, so don't know what it'll do for the swelling.

[It should feel nice, at least? Fang moves to take a seat next to Akko, now that that's taken care of.]

Followin' your idol around, huh?

[To Akko's credit, she only winces occasionally as Fang wraps her ankle. To stay still, she clenches her hands into fists, relaxing once it's over with. The coolness does feel a lot better, though the throbbing becomes a little more noticeable as a consequence. Fortunately, there's a distracting conversation going on that Akko is able to avoid dwelling on it.]

Mmhm! [She gives another nod as Fang sits next to her. She turns a little in her seat to face her.] I saw one of Shiny Chariot's shows when I was a little girl and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to become a witch just like her! I thought it was amazing how happy she made everyone.

[Akko laughs, not out of embarrassment over a childhood dream, but genuine happiness at the memories.]

I got to meet her recently, you know. [Akko's gaze drifts a little, her smile not fading but leaving behind some of that childish delight that was there a moment ago. She brushes back some of her hair behind her ear.] ...She wasn't exactly what I was expecting...

[She looks back up at Fang.]

But I'm glad I got to thank her for what she taught me and that she gave me the chance to meet my real mentor.

[Shiny Chariot? Fang's smile grows, but it's only in small part to the name. There's something refreshing about that sheer, genuine delight on Akko's face.]

[Hm. There's something Fang doesn't know, something complex hidden in there, but she knows enough to realize it has to do with that whole false identity thing.]

I never got to see any of those shows. What's it like?

[Fang is barely even able to finish the question before Akko leans in closer, slapping her hands down on the rock between them, and very excitedly declares,]

It was the most amazing thing ever! I don't think I can ever really describe it well enough to do it justice, but above the audience, the Big Dipper lit up brighter than all the other stars before falling, [Akko points above them to the sky and draws a line down to an imaginary stage in front of them,] and there was the Shiny Rod and suddenly Shiny Chariot!

[Akko bounces a little in her seat as she sits forward again like she's watching everything unfold right in front of them.]

She whisked the audience away into a world of magic with spell after spell. It seemed like anything was possible. [Atsuko places a fist over her heart.] That each of us had that kind of magic inside of us, too, no matter who we were...!

[Her fist tightens a little as she looks up at the night sky, the constellations looking completely unrecognizable even to someone like Akko except for one bright northern star. Even knowing the truth of that show, knowing that Chariot stole something from Akko and everyone else at the show that night... It doesn't sully the memory. It will always be something that she cherishes even if she thinks a little differently about it now.]

[She smiles at Fang, hand lowering back to her lap with a small sigh.]

It really changed my life.

[And for better or for worse, Atsuko wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.]

[...What the hell was the Shiny Rod? What's with this naming scheme??]

[But it's hard not to be warmed by Akko's joy. Appearing from the stars... that really did sound like something Chariot would do. Honestly, it's hard for her to imagine her timid Bonded on a stage, entertaining dozens (or hundreds? More?) with grand displays, but... it's not unthinkable. Fang's seen flashes of it, in her enthusiasm for teaching and desire to make the people around her happy. She wonders what Chariot was like, however long ago this was, before something began to strangle the light from her.]

[Chariot... the raw admiration and joy in Akko's eyes makes Fang's heart swell with fondness and pride, but it hurts, too. Fang doesn't let her thoughts wander far.]

Sounds like a grand time. For someone to make you believe so strong it changes your life... [That Fang easily believes, given how her Bonded could make even someone like her feel hope again.] Sounds like a hell of a person. Glad you got to meet her.

I was really lucky.

[Akko leans back, resting some of her weight onto her hands behind her as she gets a little more relaxed. She lets her non-injured leg swing idly.]

So, were you never into Shiny Chariot? I used to think everyone loved her as much as I did, but...

[There were plenty of witches who never really approved of the way Chariot used her magic, and before the world almost, you know, came to an abrupt end, a lot of mundane people didn't particularly care either after a while.]

[Akko shakes her head a little.]

[More than Akko should probably ever know. Fang breathes a quiet, amused huff, glancing up at the unfamiliar stars.]

Maybe not everyone, sure, but you can't be the only person whose heart she touched.

[That seemed impossible. If even now, in her timid hesitation and self-doubt, Chariot could still help others believe, Fang couldn't imagine how brilliant she must've been back then. Would she ever get to see her like that?]

Never saw a show, but think I know the gist of it. Belief is magic, and all that?

[Fang laughs softly, turning her gaze from the sky to her hands, idly flexing her hand, relishing in the way her wrist responded. She was rambling, wasn't she? But the words just kept coming, so Fang speaks on.]

It's tacky, but if you can say it with a straight face, there's something important in it—hope, you know? Hard thing to hold on to, when you need it. Anyone that can give that to you, really make you believe... they're special.

[Fang startles when water splashes against her hand. No—she lifts a shocked hand to her eye, feeling the moisture there. Why... was she crying?]

The hell...?

[At first, all Akko does is listen. While she's absolutely the sort of person who will interrupt, what Fang is saying is important. Aside from it aligning so well with everything that Akko believes, it's something that's obviously carried Fang through some difficult times, too. And that becomes only all the more obvious when Fang begins to cry.]

[She doesn't exactly know what to do given that they've only just met, but... Well, Atsuko thinks she has pretty good instincts and they've served her well thus far in her life. She places a hand on Fang's shoulder and smiles.]

Sounds to me like you know someone that special, too.

[She blinks a few times, trying to shake the tears from her eyes. Her next breath shudders, but at least her voice was still steady.]

...Yeah. I do. [A chuckle. This was getting ridiculous. Maybe Fang just ought to go and say it... but maybe that wasn't her right. What timing this kid had, showing up now of all times.] Bet you'd like her.

[Fang takes a deep breath, patting Akko's hand in quiet gratitude. Even though she's still wiping her eyes, the Turnskin's voice takes a dissonantly carefree tone.]

Whew—didn't mean to get all weepy on you. Sorry. Not sure where that came from.

[Atsuko shakes her head, dismissing the apology. It's not a big deal as far as she's concerned. Or, well, it's nothing to be ashamed of or requiring an apology in any case.]

Hopefully, we can get out of here and you can get back to her.

[Taking her hand back, Akko actually looks both ways up the river.]

People usually live near bodies of water, right? Maybe we can find someone else to help us figure out how to get out of this dream.

You sayin' I'm not good company?

[Fang's laugh is soft, but it doesn't stop her from teasing. She shakes her head lightly. ]

We could do that, sure, but I'm in no hurry. And with your ankle, neither are you.

[Akko laughs herself in response to the teasing, not minding it in the slightest. Though she does cast a look down at her ankle when it's brought up, and she can't help but sigh a little.]

I know... But we can't sit here on this rock forever. [She looks back at Fang.] To tell you the truth, I don't really know what's going on, but something clearly is.

[Because this is a dream, that much is clear. It's just the strangest lucid dream Akko has ever had where she can't seem to control any of it other than herself. And Fang? Well, she seems like a real person, but it's hard to tell if she's a product of imagination or a spell. And even then, it doesn't seem to really matter what Fang is, just that she's here and yet another sign that something is amiss with this dream. And who knows? Maybe she's also stuck in this dream, too.]

And I know that the second my friends notice something is going on, they're going to be doing everything they can to help. So, I need to do the same from here.

Won't pretend there's nothing goin' on, but you're gonna wake up, same as you always do. [Fang glances at the sky again, an odd look flickering across her face before it settles back to normal, like nothing happened.]

Your ankle hurts now, but it's gonna be fine—promise. Just don't look at anything reflective after you wake up, 'kay?

[Fang didn't know if that would help or not. Maybe it wasn't her right to suggest that, but she thought it probably for the better this bright-eyed kid didn't see a place like Geardeas.]

[Nothing Fang is saying makes any sense to Akko and her confusion is apparent on her face.]

Fang...

[She only has more questions and she wants to ask all of them, but that look... It was only for a second, but it gives Akko pause from bombarding Fang with a hundred questions even if all of them feel like water beginning to overwhelm a dam. She worries her lip a moment before sitting up straight, a very serious if concerned look in her eyes.]

What aren't you telling me?

[Ah, so she's been caught. Fang turns to meet Akko's concerned look with a concessionary half-smile, and sets a hand atop her head.]

A whole lot, honestly. [And then she gives a pat-pat, as if she'd just consoled the girl instead of stonewalling her.]

After people have dreams like these, they get pulled into another world, right through a mirror—and not a pretty one. You seem like a great kid. For your sake, I hope I never see you again.

[Unfortunately for Fang (though perhaps predictable depending on how much Ursula felt like sharing about her personality), Akko tends to be much like a dog with a bone once she's made up her mind. She shakes her head a little.]

Are you trapped there?

More or less. Me and a buncha others.

[Her smile turns wry.]

Let me guess, you're gettin' it in your head to do something about it when you wake up?

[To Akko's credit, that doesn't cause her to flush, but her mouth does move a little uselessly for a few seconds before she frowns.]

I know I haven't exactly proven myself really useful yet, but I can do magic outside of this dream. And I have my friends and my professor. I'm sure we can figure something out!

[Gods, she's just like Chariot described. Fang doesn't have the tact to not laugh at that pout. Somehow, Fang manages to keep her expression from faltering.]

Don't doubt you'll try. You look like a right stubborn one. Just remember what I told you about reflections, m'kay? The magic of this place's real good at messin' up plans.

[Akko still doesn't really understand the connection between reflections and the world Fang and the others appear to be trapped in, but she still nods in agreement to the warning. She won't be able to do much good if she ends up in trouble because she completely ignored (rather than the more likely forgetting of) a warning.]

I'll do my best to steer clear of mirrors. How many of you are there?

...You know, I'm not really sure. Hundred of us, maybe? Give or take a dozen?

[Fang shrugs.]

I don't really keep in touch with more than a handful. Hard to say.

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TDM: January

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