TDM: May

[moustre]

Test Drive: May

Welcome to 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.
• Applications Open The 24th! These will last until the end of the month, the 31st, with the intro log going on up June 1st. The application page can be found here.
• 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!
• While current players won't be allowed to post top levels on the test drive itself, feel free to reference or play with the dreams in-game.
• Test drive threads can be used as samples for your applications!



With that taken care of...

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 Eternal Fall

The smell of autumn leaves surrounds you, a myriad of colors sparkling into existence at the same time. Despite the warmth and light, the air feels heavy and stiff, as if on razor's edge. The forest is eerily silent - not a bird, bug, or rodent dares to stir - and when you do hear something, it's the high-pitched crying, whining, weeping, sobbing, howling sounds of something far off. The tunnel of bent branches invites you further with an unpleasant compulsion; though fighting it and turning around finds you in front of a chilly, damp cave alight with the faint, cool glow of bubbling fountains and streams.

The Compulsion Unable to sway yourself from the call of the forest - or maybe you're simply curious as to where it leads - your feet pull you further and further into the autumnal tunnel. The cry from before grows more distant, but in return, the air weighs even heavier on your shoulders than before. The branches hang lower and lower as well, as if pushed by gravity, until their leaves smack your face, twigs offering small cuts from the thorns protruding from their bark. But you can't stop. Not now. The end of the tunnel seems so close; but it's seemed that way for a while now, you suppose, and you've already come this far - you might as well stay the course, wherever it might lead. The further you go, the brighter everything becomes, and you realize it's the leaves surrounding you; they've begun to glow, encouraged by the sunlight streaming in from above, and the wind begins to whisper in your ear. At first, it's only encouraging things, or silly facts - harmless words, but as the foliage begins to shimmer and reflect your image, the wind's words turn colder. Within those reflections on the autumn tunnel, you begin to see your worst moments - morally, ethically, emotionally. The things you don't want anyone else to know, that you'd feel ashamed or struck for anyone - especially those close to you - to see. The wind becomes louder as the scenes play out one right after another, boldly declaring your true feelings as they were in that moment, good or bad. Worst of all - you still can't bring yourself to turn back, even as your mind begins to free itself from the tunnel's compulsion. Maybe someone else can help out, if they're not too taken by their own memories, or maybe the shock of sharing such private secrets will jolt you and anyone else back to reality. Either way, it's that, or staying stuck watching your worst memories play on repeat for what feels like the rest of your life.

The Cry While not compelled by any means, you still feel a curious draw down the path in front of you; as you follow the leaf tunnel, with others or alone, you find another, less-traveled path. Following it reveals a large pond colored orange and gold by the reflection of the area it's in, sunlight and shadows playing on its surface. At a glance, it seems to be rather shallow, but that's hardly the truth. You realize, after a moment, that the crying has continued, evidently coming from the water. Looking closer, the culprit is an infected Merrow, who - upon begin seen - shrieks and dives for whoever's looking at it with the clear intent to drag them down beneath the water. Its claws are extra sharp, its teeth similar to a shark in number and shape, and its scales have turned a pale black; an oil-like substance flows from beneath them and from its gums as well, shimmering the same way gasoline does in the light, and its eyes are the tell-tale white of a Shade. It isn't impossible to fight it to get away, especially as some of you have new abilities at hand, and some of you have a few neat changes to help that along. Once distance is successfully put between you and the infected Merrow, it howls in a wet, warbly voice, visibly frustrated. Unlike ordinary Merrows, who can walk on land and have legs as long as they stay dry, this Merrow can't seem leave its pond at all, and electricity sparks from it like little static shocks in its irritation. It does dive back under once it realizes it can't reach you, resurfacing as your character's most important person in an attempt to lure them back. The expressions are far too real, too genuine; even those aware it's a Merrow might be fooled. While its voice isn't a perfect mimicry, the song it begins to sing has with it notes of yearning and beckoning to join it, join your beloved person, in the water.

The Cave Pulling yourself from curiosity or compulsion, the cave behind you - in front of you, if you've turned around - gives off an oddly pure feeling. Like an oasis in a desert, it feels refreshing and calm; incredibly safe, compared to the eerie call of the forest it's in. Within the cave are pools of water that glow and glimmer from the magic runes found around them. The runes shift similar to a mirage whenever you try to focus on them; and try as you might, you can't glimpse what they say exactly. It isn't so hard to figure out though, as the pools of water surrounded by them have a pleasingly cold temperature, while those without them are near scalding. A few of the latter have runes around them, but they're not glowing like the rest - feeding a little magic into them changes this immediately, and steam rises in a sudden blast as the water cools rapidly. The opposite can be done for the colder pools too - taking their magic somehow or ruining the runes will make them bubble and boil as they surge in temperature. But that isn't all the cave has to offer. Moving further inward, you get the feeling you're going down - beneath the ground and the enchanting forest. Eventually, the cave widens out to a massive underground lake, multiple waterfalls pouring into it; despite their number and size, the room is completely silent. All tunnels seem to lead to this one room, with a few of them looking more man-made than natural. Traversing other tunnels leads you into a maze that only ever brings you to the lake, or to the cave's entrance, no matter how many different paths you take. Something different happens eventually though; signs of life begin to appear, or at least signs that life once lived there. Leather pouches rotted by the dampness of the cave hang on sharp nails beaten into the cave walls, with boots in similar condition strewn here and there. Torn, soaking clothing lays in piles in the tunnels, and candles burnt down to their wick's end stand in shelves carved from the navy blue and black stone. There's broken toys and books too waterlogged to read, instruments with snapped strings or clogged holes, and - most peculiarly - smooth, round devices that heavily resemble large pocketwatches or hand mirrors. They refuse to turn on though, either due to age or due to the wetness of the air.

Comments

Elliot Craig | Trails of Cold Steel | Witch

[fiddlestick]

🎻 The Cry
[Elliot had heard the crying in the distance. Even with the curiosity that he felt towards the other path, he felt compelled to investigate. Maybe it was someone who needed help. He wasn't sure what he could do to help, but he still felt compelled to try something.

These woods were unfamiliar, he thought, as he walked through them. He doesn't question it too much, figuring it was just another aspect of this dream. With him, he carries a green and silver staff. He seems pretty comfortable traveling with it, not quite leaning on it so much as occasionally using it to help move branches and leaves in the way.

Eventually, he comes across the pond. It's a rather beautiful spot, probably be a place that his friends would like to try their hand at fishing if they were here. But there's no time to mull that over, as his ears pick up that the crying was coming...from the water?]

Huh? How can that...

[he takes a few steps close, and then out springs out the infected merrow, screaming and taking a swipe at him. He yelps and stumbles back, scrambling away]

C-Crap! I got careless!

[he's doing his best to avoid getting snatched and fend it off, but he might need some help]

🎻 The Cave
[After the run in at the pond, Elliot decided maybe he should spend the rest of his dream somewhere more...peaceful. So he makes his way back to the cave, feeling calmed by the atmosphere within. It's not long before he starts exploring it, since what else is he going to do until he wakes up?

Maybe you'll catch him admiring the giant underground lake, because that's not something he's seen before. But it's the signs of life that really catch his interest. He looks at the things with concern, wondering what could've happened in this place.

None of them he attempts to pick up, it seems wrong to disturb it. That is, until he comes across the smooth round device. That's strange enough that he ends up kneeling down next to it and picking it up to inspect.]

It almost looks like dad's old combat orbment... [He muses to himself outloud] Different though ... not even sure where the quartz would go.

[He lets out a little sigh. Even if this was a dream, he wishes Alisa was here. She'd probably have a better idea of what he was looking at. ]

🎻 Wildcard
[Want something else? Hit me up here or at neutronstar! Fyi, the Cry tag has potential for Cold Steel 2 spoilers, so please let me know if you'd rather avoid them]

the cave (also pretty sure I know most of the CS2 spoilers so)

[clickclickbang]

[These dreams are really Weird and Prompto's not quite sure what to make of them happening so often. It's annoying, especially with the freaking cursed Merrow and everything else. Seriously, why can't he have nice, normal dreams here?!

Whatever, he's away from that lake now and hiding in the cave. Shaking himself dry (an urge he can't seem to fight right now), Prompto looks up when he hears another voice.]

Oh, hey. Is that your watch?

good to know!

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot hadn't realized he wasn't alone, so has a quick second of surprise jolt before he looks to see who the other person is and...

Nope! He has never seen this person in his life! Was that normal for dreams? ...Eh, he wasn't going to worry about it]

My watch? I don't think so...is that what this is?

[clickclickbang]

Yeah! They work like smartphones, sorta, only less cool. More steampunk.

[fiddlestick]

[....???]

A smart...phone...?

The Cry, spoil away Yuff.

[fieryimpulse]

[Help is not far away. Chandra had been heading in the same direction, drawn to the soft cry for help the same as the stranger. She'd approached from a more roundabout route and arrived just in time to see the infected creature attempt it's ambush. The sight of it turned her stomach, but it also enraged her, memories of similar horrors on other worlds flooding back. She'd never been good at keeping her emotion in check, and this was as good an outlet as any.

A dart of flame, frustratingly small compared to what Chandra had wanted to do, slices into it's tainted hide and sends it stumbling backwards.]

Get down! I've got you covered!

[Says a young woman with fiery copper hair wearing chainmail, crystal goggles, and a gauntlet set with a fist sized ruby. Cavalry? Arrived. Sort of.]

[fiddlestick]

Whoa!

[he'd been so distracted trying to avoid the merrow that he hadn't seen her approach. The dart of fire appearing surprises him, but not as much as it would most people- he's seen plenty of battle magic in his time. He uses the opportunity to scramble back, getting from the monsters grasp]

T-Thank you!

[he hasn't seen anyone in chainmail, it's so old fashion, but now's really not the time to question it. He backs up so he's away, but he doesn't seem to be running either, rather getting into a stance that he's planning to fight]

I really let my guard down- I should've figured there'd be monsters around.

[fieryimpulse]

[If he's planning to fight, then that's fine. He looks a little posh for a soldier, but then, who's she to judge? Some people she knows wear an evening gown to a war, with startling regularity...]

It's okay. Just don't let it touch you! I don't think it's healthy, with skin like that.

[The oil, well, that's nightmarish enough without her own associations with similar substances. Things shouldn't look like that, should they?

Her fingers flick out another dart, driving the creature further back, though it doesn't seem to be advancing outside of the pool yet...]

Wonder if it's tethered, somehow...

[fiddlestick]

[Honestly that's a pretty normal reaction to him. He'd be the last person to call himself a soldier, but he's fended off plenty of monsters in his time]

Y-Yeah...good point. I've never seen a monster like this before.

[Monsters in his world rarely looked so humanoid. But this was a dream, so maybe his subconscious was just pulling from some fairy tale.]

It might be... which is good, but it might lure other people if we just leave it.

the cave

[activatingcombatmode]

[These underground paths all lead into the same place and eventually Zack finds himself lost in a dream and trying to figure his way around this place. At least the large underground lake is a good waypoint. Eventually, he finds himself the same way the other has gone.]

Yo. Did you find something?

[He greets with a small wave. It's hard to catch right away but Zack seems to have claw-like nails and his pupils are dilated. Ignore that, he's mostly fine. Mostly.]

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot looks over when he hears someone voice...followed by looking up as well. It's another person that Elliot doesn't recognize. But lucky for Zack, he's too focused on his height to really notice the nails or the pupils. This was a dream, wasn't it? Then why was his subconscious making the people all taller than him? That's not fair...

Aw well.

He holds out the item he found on the ground]

Y-Yeah, this. I was trying to figure out what it was.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Just a very tall dude exploring this very underground lake area just like everyone else. The kid looks short so he automatically assumes it's a kid or teenager.]

That? [Zack doesn't look too surprised as he pulls a watch-like item out of his own pocket that looks very similar to the one held.] Looks like our mirror-watches we get.

[But he wonders how someone lost their down here. Are they okay? That one looks really old.]

[fiddlestick]

[!!! He looks surprised when Zack pulls out his mirror-watch]

Oh! It really does look like that!

...What's a mirror-watch?

cave

[littlemperor]

[the last time tori dreamed like this, he didn't have king with him.

this time, the golden retriever's at his side and sniffing at all the cavelife, as interested as tori is disgusted. but it's not that bad, he guesses. it's not that creepy merrow from before. and the cave has a sort of... calming feeling to it too, very soothing, though the pools with their runes and magic startle tori one too many times for him to like them completely.

the waterfall and lake, on the other hand, are good. very pretty. seeing a person near it makes him pause, squinting as he tries to figure out of they're like, safe or not, but he can feel that same sensation he'd had before, the last time he'd dreamed so vividly, and thinks that maybe

even if this person is bad or something

it might be okay.

and king wants to say hi anyway, so elliot's being joined by a very short boy and his dog.]

What are you doing? Looking for treasure at the bottom of the lake, or something like that?

[because there's Always something at the bottom of lakes. his manga says so. the signs of life haven't caught his eye just yet, but this has.]

[fiddlestick]

[Well lucky for Tori, Elliot is not an evil murderer so he'll probably be okay. Hearing them approaches catches his attention and he'll smile and scratches the back of his head. He doesn't recognize them, but surely someone with a cute dog has to be okay right?]

Oh, haha..probably not, I'm not the best swimmer. I've just never seen an underground lake before.

the cry; spoilers are fine!

[vytal]

Incoming!

[ yang runs forward and goes in for a punch to the merrow's arm. it screeches when her punch connects--even if it's nowhere near as strong as it would have been back on remnant--and its arm flies back momentarily. it releases elliot from its grasp, giving them an opening to draw back. yang grabs onto the boy's arm with her other hand and pulls him back with her as she distances them from the creature. ]

You okay? Are you hurt?

[fiddlestick]

Whoa!

[he wasn't expecting to be saved, but he's not going to complain. He scrambles back with her, letting himself be pulled along. Luckily, he's pretty small so he's more than easy to move]

Y-Yeah, I'm fine! Sorry, I should've been more careful.

[he looks, and sure enough that merrow is still trying to reach out for them]

What IS that?!

[vytal]

I was about to ask you the same thing!

[ looks like a grimm from back home, but clearly that's not the case. the good thing is that the merrow doesn't seem to be leaving the pond, and yang and elliot are far back enough to where it can't reach them. ]

Huh. Looks like it's stuck there. [ she turns to look at him. ] We should be okay here.

[fiddlestick]

W-Well I don't know! It doesn't look like any monster I've seen before.

[And thank goodness, it's not following them, he takes a moment to catch his breath]

Yeah...thanks for the save. I heard crying so I went to see what was going on...I should've been more careful.

the cry!

[usurpers]

[ only one night away from the full moon, eren doesn’t have the most restful of sleeps— when he can sleep. this night is riddled with dreams that bring his disquiet to light; something was coming, he could feel something but was unknowing of what. all he knew was that it rattled his rib cage around enough to shove him into a constant edge when he felt awake. small things bug him, like the pond that stretches across autumn woodlands and makes his throat drum with a snarl, as if he’d prefer to be away from the water, too chilly to skin that favored heat. he still has two legs, two arms, human in shape and in appearance. it isn’t hard to spot movement by the corner of the pond hidden away by the dipping trees.

he bolts the instant he sees ginger hair trying to fend off the merrow at the pond’s corner. no time, no time to attack it himself when he knows full well not to get near the tar oozing from its mouth, so— the best thing he can do is hook elliot from behind, under the arms, and attempt to drag him away from the shade’s immediate vicinity as quick as he can. ]

Don’t touch it!

[ never mind that the young man here to help looks like he’s run himself through a wood chipper? he’s cut and scratched up all over the place, skin as red as. lobster, probably.

but his viking braids are on fleek. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot hadn't noticed Eren's approach. He'd been too busy trying to fend off the merrow, scrambling away and trying to hit it with his staff. he didn't understand why his staff's magic didn't seem to be responding- it's never done that to him before.

So next thing he knows, he feels an arm hook and pull him. He makes a yelp, but thankfully between Eren's strength and Elliot's struggling, it's able to break the hold of the monster]

Whoa!

[He falls back with Eren, and the monster isn't immediately trying to follow. Elliot will try to glance back at his savior]

T-Thanks, sorry I was-

[And he notices whoever this is? Looks very much injured]

Oh no, you're hurt!

[usurpers]

[ did grabbing clothes count? he didn’t know yet and he might have to check, even though eren would know so little about what to look for anyway. he’s have to tell elliot to go to the infirmary. wherever it was right now . . . dreams made sense when you’re in them.

another group effort into tanking has eren stumbling back with elliot in tow, falling onto his bottom with the boy’s fall cushioned by his body. it’s fine! ten abs don’t feel much, and eren only oofs once air is forced out, struggling to get on his feet and continue pulling back.

the merrow shrieks and reaches for them once more, sparks flying once it’s demise has been met. they’re too far now, and with another ugly cry, it sinks back to where it came from. eren’s chest still rattles with each escalated heartbeat, breathing out and lifting elliot and himself back on his feet. don’t worry about sitting on his lap for ten seconds.

he’s— ah. ]

No, I’m— [ he is hurt, though. chronic sunburns, is what it feels like. it aches in a way that starts making any oncoming itch painful to touch. he just needs to get back to the coven. well, they both do. ] It’s a condition.

[ . . . listen, he hardly knows either. just hunches and estimated anticipations. ]

Let me see your leg, where it grabbed you.

[ it’s not so much a demand as it is an innocently direct inquest. expose the leggy. ]

the cave!

[birdfeed]

[ nishinoya has gathered . . . too many watches, rounding them all into the little pouch he’s made with his own shirt. drenched up himself, all his hair sticks flat against his head, something he mumbles about occasionally (whining, he’s whining), before he sees something, wait, someone. as social as ever, the libero sprints over with a bounce in his step, and with unyielding fact in his tone: ]

Dude! [ enthusiastically, he holds his shirt out to reveal all the watches (and maybe some extra junk) he’s picked up ] They’re totally iWatches!

[ beams✨ ]

[fiddlestick]

[That is a lot of watches. He widens his eyes, impressed but also confused. Where and why was he gathering so many. And also-]

What's an Iwatch?

[birdfeed]

It’s a phone on your wrist!

[ . . . without the bands. basically!! he’s never had one, though. actually— he’s never even seen one, beyond passing glances on the internet. ]

—They’re not yours, are they?