dagung | TDM: MARCH

Entry tags:

* tdm

TDM: MARCH

Test Drive: March

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 character, put one in! This time around, reserves will expire after the first 48 hours of applications being opened. Those first 48 hours will be open to those who have reserves only, so we recommend placing one. It will not guarantee you a spot, but it will guarantee you can post your app immediately when they open.
• Applications Open The 24th! There will be a cap of 30 applications accepted this round, and apps will close whenever we've reached that cap. If there are slots left after the reserves-only period, apps will open to those without reserves. 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!
• 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 Underground

Take a moment. Let your eyes adjust to the dark, your ears to echoing silence, but for the steady drip of condensation down the stone walls that surround you. The tunnels down here are wide, the ceilings high, but they are dim, devoid of sunlight and breeze. The only light, in fact, comes from the shards of softly-glowing shards of quartz lining the ground and the bio-luminescent algae that smears the stone in long, blue veins, pulsing gently, pushing breathable air into the otherwise-stale passageways. The air is damp, but the temperature is moderate - almost comfortable. The tunnels fork off and meander from where you are, some narrowing and some widening, but none seem to lead you to the surface, no matter how long you wander. Is it a trick of the light, that the algae glows a little brighter, pulses a little quicker, when you head in a particular direction? It's hard to sort your senses so deep underground, far from the world above where things make sense. Hopefully you've found a friend by now.

The Crystal Cavern
Many of the tunnels, both wide and narrow, lead to the same place: a massive chamber hewn out of the stone by time, and the drip-drip of water from the ceiling into the central lake. Perhaps you came out toward the bottom, and the ceiling is a thousand feet above you, or maybe you came out toward the top, and the lake is a thousand feet below. There are a hundred or more holes in the sloping stone walls that lead to more tunnels, and something like natural steps down from most of them. In a way, it resembles a beehive, this room acting as a central hub of sorts.

This is also the first place you find signs of life. Short, tough little tufts of grass growing from the thin soil, bone white in color, having long abandoned photosynthesis and chlorophyll. More of the glowing algae. Small, skittering insects - beetles, grubs and worms. The occasional albino rat, much larger and louder than rats have any right to be. Ruffled and capped fungi growing on the wet rock like parasites, some as large as a grown man. Blind, slimy cave fish wriggling around in the still waters of the lake.

And milling around the great stone cavern, slurping up the glowing algae that covers the rocks and grows in lacy sheets across the water, are dozens of great beasts, bigger than horses. Shaped like worms, but with dozens and dozens of stubby, fleshy legs, these creatures are huge, with velvety, multi-colored hides, and though their antennae wave in curiosity when approached, they don't seem aggressive. At least, as long as you avoid the big silk-wrapped bundles stuck to the walls and ground all over the cavern. These are their egg sacs, and if their young are threatened, they'll quickly shoot jets of viscous slime, a quick drying adhesive, that can slow and trap even the strongest adult. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, you better hope someone can wrench you loose - the worms seem content to eat algae, until they've caught prey. Each worm has a long, hooked, chitinous blade concealed within its fleshy jaws to tear and shred, and a nightmarish round mouth full of multiple rows of teeth.

Navigate carefully. There at the bottom of the lake, where it feeds into an underground stream that leads down another wide tunnel, there are a few small rowboats, some missing oars, certainly not enough for everyone. You'll have to share if you want to get out of here. Or you can keep hanging out with the giant wormipedes.

The Procession
As you proceed down the stream by boat, the lighting grows just a little brighter, seeming a little more purposeful in how the glowing algae is planted, how the softly glowing crystals are placed. You start seeing a new type of moss, greyish-green and growing in ragged sheets from the ceiling of the tunnel. Watch your head - it's near impossible to cut through this stuff should you get tangled. For a while, you only hear the soft splashing of the gentle stream, but then... there is a flash of torch light, up ahead.

The boat ahead is longer than the one you use, better kept, and full of people - three Monsters, all whose forms are based on creatures that thrive underground, in pieces of armor, holding spears, and one very elderly Witch woman, seated in the middle, wrinkled hands folded primly in her lap. Her milky gaze stares straight ahead, with something soft and proud in the set of her face. One of the Monsters holds the torch, the other rows the boat, and the third settles down next to her; they speak in hushed voices, with little smiles.

After a while, the rowing Monster slows the boat, before they can bump into a thick, heavy, impenetrable curtain of grayish-green moss that stretches across the whole tunnel, blocking the way, like a gate. The other two help the woman to her feet, and guide her toward the front of the boat - and the curtain of moss. She reaches out for it blindly, and they help her step onto the edge. There is something almost ritual or reverent about the movements, the way they regard the Witch as she touches the curtain of moss... and is wrapped into it quickly, swallowed up, absorbed. After twenty minutes of gentle pulsing, the lump that used to be the Witch is no more, and the whole of the moss pulses with light and magic. The Monsters watch this whole process vigilantly, and once the lights die down, they continue on. The moss parts to allow the boat through, brushing against the Monsters but not swallowing them.

The procession happens a few more times, in separate boats, with separate victims - but all are very, very elderly, and seem proud, even happy to meet their fates. Trying to follow them further after the ritual will have the same thing happen for your boat - the moss will part, and brush over those in the boat without causing harm. If you happen to be infected with the Cwyld, however... you might meet the same fate as the old woman, with the moss reaching and grabbing for you. The procession can be stopped, but drawing attention will draw the ire of the Monster guards, and, strangely, the victims themselves, who will fly into a distressed rage at the interruption.

The Marketplace
Beyond the veil of moss lies... civilization? The cavern is enormous, big enough to contain a city at least as big as Aefenglom, if not larger, though the population at a glance seems to be much smaller. Twenty thousand people, perhaps, give or take. Buildings have been carved out of huge stone spires, or formed by draping cloth around and between the natural stalactites and stalagmites. Monsters tend to be quite tall or bulky, possessing obvious physical strength, while Witches and humans tend to be shorter than in Aefenglom. They all mingle on the streets together, with no immediately obvious class difference. Since there is no weather to dress for, some don't bother to dress at all, though humans at least tend to wear flowy silks or simple clothes made from wormipede hides. The streets are wide and the buildings far-spaced, and many get around on the backs of those worm creatures, having made them saddles and reins.

The stream ends in a lake right next to a marketplace, with many small boats docked on its pebbled shores. The stalls sell all kinds of goods: clothing made from fine silk and worm hide or rat fur, skewered meat (It's bug.), weapons, armor, jewelry made from chunks of beautiful stone. Your arrival is bound to cause a stir though, so keep your head down, and maybe it's time to snatch a disguise from one of the clothing stalls.

Monster guards, occasionally flanked by Witches, patrol the streets and keep the peace, and stopping to talk to anyone will make one thing clear: they are not at all used to outsiders. They won't believe a word you say about being from above ground, and they've never heard of your world or Aefenglom. You're nomads from the tunnels, right? Of course, don't be ridiculous, you can't fool them with tall tales! At least they're usually willing to talk - briefly, of course, everyone is very busy down here, it's morning and many will be heading to tend to the herd soon.

Those who are subtle and pointed in their questions can learn a lot about the vast but also small civilization below the surface of the world. Strength is valued here - the stronger the Monster or more powerful the Witch, the higher their rank in society, and the closer they live to the center, largest spires of stone. Monster-Witch Bonded pairs are the be-all-end-all, and often wear matching wrist-guards or pendants proudly. Pretending to be Bonded to another will put many of the natives at ease, though Monster-Monster pairs get snide comments about how you have to team up to find a good Witch, and Witch-Witch pairs will get odd looks and assume you both have a very strong Monster partner somewhere. It must be quite rare for Witches to go un-bonded here, and any who pass through without an obvious partner may be propositioned by young Monsters showing off their various talents. Unbonded Monsters may be nudged in the direction of any strange, unbonded Witches - usually fellow Mirrorbound - in a poor attempt at matchmaking. Those poor unbonded Witches need protection, right? Or so the locals think.

It's too bad trying to go any farther than the Marketplace will get you stopped by guards and turned back, however. They don't allow nomads into the inner city.

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[ She cocks her head to the side to consider that, before glancing back over those assembled in the marketplace with a discerning eye. ]

Is that what they all are? [ A pause, as she glances back at him. ] And you, as well?

[ ...She hasn't quite pieced together that she might be numbered among them now. ]

That's what I've become since I've been summoned here. [Archer shrugs. He does look similar to asian dragons, with red branching horns and scales resembling snake skin.] This world reshapes our bodies to fit its rules - you either have magic or lack it.

[It's frightening, but Archer says it so matter of factly. Well, he's used to being summoned somewhere.]

This world can do such a thing as that?

[ She blinks at him a moment before lifting her own hands to stare at them in confusion for a moment. ]

Does that mean I've become changed as well, just by being here? You say we've been... summoned? [ She's never heard of such a thing before, and that doesn't explain why she had been summoned, over anyone else.

At least she currently doesn't seem too frightened by the idea, approaching this new situation with more of a startled confusion and curious logic. One problem at a time. ]

[She's taking it well. Archer is rather impressed, which is rare. He gestures towards the busy marketplace; if she takes his invitation he's going to accompany her as a bodyguard.]

Yes it can and not yet. This is a dream that all the Mirrorbound share. [a pause.] That's how they call us.

There's a high possibility you will be summoned too. No one knows why or how. Dream comes first, around a week later summoning happens.

[ She chews on her lower lip as she accepts his offer without a word, moving back to meander among the market stalls once more. She's grateful for his presence at his side. Even though some of the shopkeep and clustered monsters scattered about are watching - in some cases a little hungrily, it seems - none of them approach now that he walks by her side.

Again, she's struck with a sense of familiarity and can't help but be grateful for it.

Glancing up, she searches his face once more. ] Mirrorbound... is that how you are summoned? And... do you know why you are summoned? [ Or why she might have been swept here, since it's not readily obvious to her. ]

[Archer easily matches her pace. He moves quietly for his size, with the ease of seasoned warrior.]

Yes. As to why— to combat Cwyld, a magical plague destroyibg this world. Those Dreams are clues to unravel the mystery. It's a best guess to all the why's and how's. [corner of his lips curls into sarcastic smile.]

[ That has her stopping short, her eyes widening at the seriousness of this claim. ]

A magical plague? That's horrible! But... I am no healer. I would be happy to help however I can, if there is indeed some way I could, but... You don't know how, either... do you?

[ She recognizes the emotions shading that smile. ]

[Archer frowns. She's right, there is no clear path to follow. This is no heroic tale, no help from supernatural beings aside the Dreams. It's figuring out everything on their own. It doesn't mean they're all clueless.]

There are various ways to help— research, fighting, exploring. Finding the clues picked up in those Dreams or researching old tales, exploring the Wilde and fighting those corrupted by the Cwyld or helping to cleanse the land, everything counts. [he says calmly.] It is because of differences between our worlds and this one, the different knowledge that helps.

[ What he describes is not healing at all - at least none that she's ever heard of before.

But she considers it carefully all the same. ]

What you're saying is they lacked the ability to counter this plague with their own knowledge and sought others to bring in differing ideas and understanding to expand further.

[ Which was sensible, really. If you'd exhausted all your avenues of understanding, what else was there to do than to start looking in places yet unexplored? ]

What does this plague due? Is that why those in the marketplace were so obsessed with these Bonds?

Cwyld corrupts everything it touches, be it any living being, the plants or even the ground. [he frowns as he casts a look around at the marketplace and lowers his voice.]

There's no signs of it here. Perhaps it has something to do with the moss— [Archer catches himself and shakes his head.] Nevermind. When the land is corrupted by Cwyld it takes a lot to cleanse it, and it's impossible to stop the corruption from spreading.

But it can be cleansed?

[ 'A lot' is not the same thing as impossible. Even though it sounds as if such a blight would still leave the land and those affected by it much changed. If it is as bad as he says, it would have to. ]

It seems they have managed to stay protected here. Perhaps it is as you say. Considering what I saw of the moss before arriving here... [ That old woman's sacrifice, returning her life to protect those she left behind. It took on a much different meaning now. One Yona still wasn't comfortable with, but with more knowledge, she was getting a better grasp of the bigger picture. ]

Yes, it can be cleansed.

I haven't seen this place before. [he adds quieter as he memorizes the wares in hopes of recognizing something familiar.]

[ That does have her glancing back up at him, because he's seemed very knowledgable about everything else so far. ]

Did you dream yourself into the strange caves out there as well?

The caves with moss? [Archer casts a sharp glance at her, then nods.]

Yes, I did.

[ There is a faint flinch and a glimmer of uneasy unhappiness when he mentions the moss, because that incident she'd shared in the boat with Caster still has her unsettled, but... ]

I wonder why...? Unless we were meant to see all that before arriving here...

It's all important. Maybe we will have to find those caves or what is left, if what we see is the past.

[ That gives her pause as she glances up to his face once more, coming to a stop in the middle of the marketplace. ]

...What do you mean, 'the past'?

[Archer frowns in thought.]

Few of those Dreams has shown us things that did happen in the past.

[ She stops and stares around her with wide eyes, uneasy and a little alarmed.

The fact that this was a dream had been strange enough, but hearing this... ]

You mean, that whatever we see here may have already happened and passed... long ago, even?

[ If so, then that old woman... There really had been no way to save her. But what of the protection she'd sacrificed herself for? ]

[Her reaction prompts him to rest his hand gently on her shoulder to comfort her. Archer's hands still look human despite a hint of scales visible beneath the sleeves of his clothes. It's much warmer, though.]

That's true.

[ She looks a little surprised by the gesture, but after a moment, gives him a warm smile, even if it's still a hint sad. ]

Is there any way to find out the fate of this place?

[He squeezes her shoulder reassuringly and nods.]

Yes, in the waking world. Perhaps there are tales about this marketplace. Perhaps one of the outposts is near this cave complex. [he sighs and warns her, his voice lowering.] Don't try to brave the outside alone, Cwyld is too dangerous.

[ She holds up her hands in a gesture of innocence at his warning look. ]

I don't even know how to get outside. All I've seen of this place so far is many tunnels and the underground river, and then this city. The people here don't even seem to believe there is an outside. They thought I was crazy or lying when I mentioned the sky.

[Archer has the grace to look a bit sheepish.]

I mean the waking world.

[ She gives him an understanding smile before shaking her head. ]

I'm not sure our waking worlds are anywhere near each other - not when the things you speak of are things I've never heard of before. Even everything I've learned of this place... it sounds like something out of a legend or story.

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TDM: MARCH

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