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TDM: January
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aefenglom's test drive! All threads can be considered game canon, should you choose to do so; regardless of if you pick specific threads to remain canon to the game, the prompts and test drive itself will be. This will be touched on later in-game, so it's fairly important to note! Aside from that, here are some quick reminders:• 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.With that taken care of...
• 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. |
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But fear not, Sora. He's following behind. This isn't the best plan they've had but he'd rather figure this out without the strange locals plotting to have them fight each other.
He stops as Sora does, giving his friend a once over. Nope, not hurt. Once Riku's satisfied, he leans back and watches Sora with a hint of a sympathetic smile.]
You know... I didn't think it was possible for someone to actually get you to stop talking...
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Is Riku calling him a chatter box!! Yes--- Because he is.
But the curse still seems to be in place...]
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So I'm right then. [Wiggling his cheeks out of Sora's fingers with a knowing grin, but he won't sweat them away.]
Is your magic working?
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Nope. Nadda. No bueno.
Sora shakes his head no.]
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Even without any vocal cues or obvious signs, he knows Sora is trying. Standing still for his friend, there's only a sigh escaping his lips after the confirmation, bringing a hand up to cup his chin.]
Yeah. It's not working for me either, but they clearly have some kind of magic here.
[A grimace. He's not sure he wants to trust the locals here given their poking and prodding and the fighting pit, but they don't have much of a choice.]
We'll just have to find someone who can undo this.
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But Sora quickly nods because he's getting tired of being mute as well so finding something or someone to help lift the curse is ideal. And maybe getting to do a bit of exploring of this place with Riku might prove to be neat too.
With a pat to Riku's shoulder he points towards the rest of the make-shift tents. Time to go ask around!]
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Riku gives him a soft smile and raises a hand to give Sora's shoulder a bit of a squeeze. Don't look so glum, sunshine boy!]
We'll figure this out.
[Exploring doesn't sound like such a bad idea so long as they don't run into that fae again. Though honestly, the enslaved humans don't sit right with him either, but it's not as if they have much choice.]
Let's go. And stay close, kay? And try not to get anymore curses.
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Sora walks quickly with Riku through the rows of tents and they end up in a collection of them that seem to be selling trinkets and potions. Various knick-knacks, stones and jewellery are on display. Sora finds himself wandering through them all poking at this and that.
Who knows maybe they'll even find a potion or something that will cure Sora's muted curse?]
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Otherwise this is the worst sleeping world ever.
Riku's attention is a little split between keeping an eye on Sora and satiating his own curiousity at the tents and mulling over what could possibly be a cure. He's not nearly as handsy as Sora, wary of the curious eyes the fae give them.]
"Well, well, well. Two little monsters out on the prowl? What ails you boys, hmmm? Looking for something to make you stronger, bigger? Or a cure for something perhaps?"
[Monsters? What a weird thing to call them. Riku raises an eyebrow, not sure if it's a local thing or not. Carefully picking up a potion among the many wares and looking it over.]
We're looking for something that can lift a curse.
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He quickly nods his head at the words that Riku says and point at his lips to try and portray his muteness.]
"Ah, I see. The little one has a silence curse on him. I've got just the thing."
[With that, the man pulls out a purple-ish potion from one of the drawers behind him. He holds it up and tells the boys that this should do the trick. Sora pats Riku's arm excitedly.]
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Putting down the other vial in his hand, he reaches out for purple one with a thanks, looking it over carefully. He can't say he's a potions expert, but can he place his trust in someone they just met? This is for Sora's sake after all, and someone already thought to bring him misfortune.]
Should I... try it first?
[Probably not the greatest idea considering Riku's not the one that cursed. But it never hurts to be wary and careful, and Sora doesn't need any more issues in this dream.
Sometimes it's hard to kick the cautious streak he's built up over the years. He turns to Sora, holding the vial in between them. It'll be easy enough to grab from his fingers should the younger boy want it.]
What do you think?
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"Aye, I don't lie to my customers, boy. Let him drink it. All I require is that you pay up."
[Hopefully Riku has money because Sora's already downing the purple-ish liquid like it's a can of soda. Gulp gulp gone! And then Sora feels the slight tingle in his throat as the potion works its magic. He suddenly gasps and coughs into his palm and then huffs audibly.]
Ahh? [His voice!] Riku? Riku! It worked! I'm free! Aaaaah!!!
[No need to scream, Sora.]
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Ah... sorry. [He turns to the seller, a bit sheepish and ashamed. It's force of habit really. One that he keeps working on. He may be trying to be impulsive, follow in Sora's footsteps of trusting his heart, but some things he just can't quite shake.
Digging into a pocket for his munny pouch with a sigh, Riku pays the fae. He doesn't need to face his friend to know that the cure worked. The scrunched expression on his face says it all as Sora yells into his ears.]
...I think I liked it better when you couldn't talk.
[A teasing smile and a chuckle. He's going to go deaf just by being your bestie.]
Thanks. Hope this is enough for payment.