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☆ TDM: SEPTEMBER
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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 is part of our September-October event The Price of Revolution, so it's fairly important to note! Aside from that, here are some quick reminders:• The Application Queue is open. Apps can be submitted at any time but will only be processed as space opens up and game plot allows. The application page can be found here.With that taken care of...
• 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!
• And finally, since this is part of our event, characters already in-game ARE allowed to top-level on this post.
Mirrorbound who come to the Coven after dark on the 27th, who have volunteered to assist in waking the sleeping citizens of Dorchacht, are ushered into a large room laid with pallets on the floor inside a huge chalk circle. With Nessie are a group of sleepy-eyed Witches in loose robes, their expressions calm and almost dreamy despite the seriousness of the situation. These are the Dreamers, an oft-secluded group of Witches who study Divination and dream magic almost exclusively. They show signs of suffering some of the dangers of dreamwalking - they space out often, or doze off and have to be woken by one of their fellows. Still, they seem to know what they’re doing as they prepare candles and fragrant incense. Magic pulses through the floor, tingling threads of it escaping to reach out harmlessly toward the Mirrorbound who filter in.
Miss Nessie is the one to explain the ritual in a solemn tone as she oversees the final preparations and the other gathered Witches. "You all seem to have an uncanny ability to dreamwalk that we do not fully understand. Normally such a thing is difficult, it is, but the Mirrorbound are capable without even trying." She takes a breath and lets it go, standing straighter, determined. "Hopefully we can trigger that ability tonight. Theoretically, magical energy can be harvested from the dream planes. While you sleep, and dream, we will perform a spell to allow you all to bring back that energy crystallized into a physical form, and that is what we will use to wake the citizens of Dorchacht. The more you can collect, the more people we can help."
Her determination gives way briefly to open worry, and she admits, "We don't know what form this shared dream will take, or what dangers it may hold. With the spell going, any injuries you sustain in the dream will also carry over to your physical body, so be careful, yes? You can still back out, of course, and none will hold it against you. For those who stay, healers will be on-site and monitoring your physical forms."
Those who stay will be given a piece of a very rare lavender mushroom used by the Dreamers called Faecap, which works quickly to induce sleep - and shared dreaming. As they drift off, the sounds of soft chanting fill the large room.
[Due to the untested nature of dreamwalking, IC volunteering isn't necessary to participate in the TDM - your character may simply find themselves in the shared dream when they go to sleep that night, similar to how TDM characters will just find themselves in it.]
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, and a sour wind brushes across your face and through your hair. It seems to claw at your consciousness like chilling, spindly fingers -
and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.
The Nightmarescape
This is Aefenglom, and yet it isn't, at the same time. A large Victorian-styled city of cobblestone streets and close-together buildings, cut through the center by the River Temese. Whether you recognize its specific features and structures or not, you know deep in your bones it isn't meant to look like this. It's subtle at first, but it becomes more and more obvious the longer you walk the cobblestone streets. Everything is... almost gray, desaturated in color. Buildings are crooked, tilting at improbable angles. Clocks are upside-down. Writing is backwards or unrecognizable. The night sky above bears a greenish hue to it, and the stars seem to swim in and out of different formations. The city is also hauntingly empty - except for your fellow dreamers. The space yawns like it wants to be filled with life; it craves, it's hungry for it.
and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.
The Nightmarescape
This is Aefenglom, and yet it isn't, at the same time. A large Victorian-styled city of cobblestone streets and close-together buildings, cut through the center by the River Temese. Whether you recognize its specific features and structures or not, you know deep in your bones it isn't meant to look like this. It's subtle at first, but it becomes more and more obvious the longer you walk the cobblestone streets. Everything is... almost gray, desaturated in color. Buildings are crooked, tilting at improbable angles. Clocks are upside-down. Writing is backwards or unrecognizable. The night sky above bears a greenish hue to it, and the stars seem to swim in and out of different formations. The city is also hauntingly empty - except for your fellow dreamers. The space yawns like it wants to be filled with life; it craves, it's hungry for it.
 A City Void of Life It does begin to fill, in time. The longer you're present in the dream, the more things shift and slide. You can feel it drawing from you, your memories, your thoughts and feelings, seeking out your fears and anxieties, your worries and your upsets. It slips right into your cracks and it digs out what it seeks. It turns the shadows of your mind into horrifying possibilities. Twisted features from your life overlay themselves on the empty city of Aefenglom - a single room, a building, a creature, a person. Not quite memories, they're all off in some way, adapting to the dream, warping. Don't get taken in by familiarity: whatever has drawn itself from your head is very, very dangerous. Shadows lurk where they shouldn't, once welcoming rooms close in on and threaten to suffocate you, a friendly creature's teeth and claws become pronounced and vicious, the darkened figure of a loved one watches you with blank eyes and malice in their smile. Whatever has appeared, it's a manifestation of your nightmares, and it wants to hurt you and the other dreamers around you. Maybe it's a dark what-if that has whispered in your ear at night, a bad end that you feared but never came to fruition, or maybe it's simply just the ugly representation of your greatest fear. Whatever it is, it's out for blood, and it's joined by fragments from the other dreamers. Hopefully you find a friend to help you out. If there was ever a time for a team-up. It's possible to leave the nightmarescape Aefenglom to try and escape these bad ends and what ifs. Time and space work strangely in this dream, and it's just a few steps to Dorchacht or the Wilde, or a quick tumble to the caverns Underground. Movement seems to be more about intent than direction. But it just gives a new backdrop for your nightmares, because they will follow, they will pursue you doggedly, melding into the scenery. |
 Face Your Fears Those who came here on purpose know what the mission is: to collect the crystallized magical energy present in this dreamscape to wake a city cursed to sleep forever. Let the others know, the ones who wound up here on accident, and maybe they can help you - each fragment of a nightmare contains this energy, even theirs, and can be collected and brought back by the dreamers who will wake at the Coven. The energy presents as black orbs, hard and clear like glass, no bigger than large marbles, with images of your terrors dancing deep within them. Coming by these orbs isn't exactly easy, however. To do so, you have to face manifestations of your worst fears. Defeat them - physically, emotionally, by standing up to them and staring them in the face, there are many ways to banish a nightmare - and they'll condense down into the dark glass pieces. With each defeat, the changes to the landscape sprung out of your head will disappear, and that part of Aefenglom (or Dorchacht, or the Underground, or the Wilde) will right itself, ease back into something normal, the oppressive air fading. The shadows will shorten and color will seep back into that patch of scenery. And hold tight to those crystals if you dare - other nightmares are drawn to them. These may not even belong to anyone in particular, but to the continent of Geardagas itself: grasping Shades of Monsters and Witches both, with white eyes and blackened skin, who wish to spread their infection; half-burned Dryads screaming for help; gleeful, malicious Fae playing terrible tricks, more twisted and insectoid than the Fae most know; a growing, creeping blackness that can only be the Cwyld itself. Even the land you walk on, or may walk on in the future, has many fears. It's a good thing some of you have new abilities at hand, and some of you have a few neat changes to help, or perhaps they aren't new at all. Regardless, use your abilities well and work together, it's time to face your fears. |
 Flitting Shadows Those who are attuned to their surroundings might notice something off - beyond everything else that is already quite off, that is. The sense of being watched, wherever you go, no matter where you turn, is strong and creeping, until it consumes your consciousness. Always just outside your peripheral vision is a presence, a shadow, lean and cloaked. No matter how quickly you run or how suddenly you turn to catch it, you can never quite get a glimpse of the figure's face, if it even has one. Trying too hard will make you dizzy, nauseous, as it evades and evades and evades. You might not be able to see a face, or much more than the vaguest hint of a shape, but it sees you. Don't let yourself be distracted from your mission, or from simple survival if you aren't the heroic type. If you linger trying to catch the specter at the edge of your vision, the nightmares will find you, readily and easily, vicious and ready to make you fight for your life. Ignore the sound of wings flapping in the distance, a whisper in an indistinct voice, words you can't hope to understand or even separate from the gnawing paranoia that roars in your ears. The presence never reveals itself, and never attacks you directly. You get the sense that it's trying to determine what, exactly, you're doing - and that maybe it's trying to sabotage your efforts to collect the hard glass marbles of energy from this plane. |
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Still, Geiz is putting himself in serious danger by charging Ohma Zi-O, and because of that alone Sougo can't afford to not win this one.
So he takes a deep breath as he starts his own charge, the glow around his hand becoming darker as he comes up from the side. Ohma Zi-O does seem pretty distracted by the fact that Geiz has recklessly charged him, and while he could easily blast both of these boys back for once Sougo manages to be subtle and remain unnoticed enough to get into Ohma Zi-O's person space.
While his future self notices him then and reaches out towards Sougo, Sougo ducks to the side and tries to pull off a boxer-like move of jabbing his future self right in the side.
He flubs it only in that it doesn't look particularly cool when he doesn't make direct contact, but it hardly matters. The energy that's surrounding his fist seems to almost explode on contact, sending Ohma Zi-O flying back.
Geiz may or may not be lucky enough to avoid being knocked back himself. ]
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Did we get him?
[ He asks, as he dusts himself off before heading on over to Sougo's side. It's comfortable like this. Being side by side again. Geiz hadn't realized just how much comfort it gives him to be here with Sougo, just standing together and being in each other's presence. ]
Where the hell did you learn to do that?
[ Of course he asks another question right after the first. But he's never seen anyone be able to do what Sougo just did and he needs to know just how and where he was able to learn how to do this. ]
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He frowns as he tries to peer around the clearing street for signs of his future self having moved or been knocked to the ground.
Though worryingly, he sees nothing. ]
I'm not sure...
[ Which is why he puts a hand on Geiz's shoulder to try and lead him away from here. If his future self is planning a retaliation attack, then they probably want to clear out quickly.
As for the second question. ]
My magic? Ah.... It's kind of a long story, but I can tell you as we go.
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Magic? ]
What magic?
[ He hisses that under his breath while looking over their shoulders to make sure Ohma Zi-O isn't after them. But apparently Sougo's attack had worked for the moment. He looks back at Sougo, a frown marring his features as he grabs him and shoves him up against a wall after they've rounded a corner ]
Explain now. I don't get any of this. I don't understand any of this. So explain now before I decide that you're just some kind of doppleganger who's trying to get me to lower my guards down before you attack me.
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Most of the time he drifts off and meets people within dreams he has time to meander about as he wants, but this time he's here for a purpose. While he's happy to explain to Geiz, he doesn't have time to just stand still and do it. ]
Geiz...
[ A small sigh as he keeps onto his friend's wrists, and tries to pull him along even has he moves away from the wall. ]
If I wanted to attack you would I have just teamed up with myself? I'll tell you everything, but we have to keep moving! There are a lot of people who need help right now.
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So he grabs Sougo's hand and jets off, dragging him along with him as he takes in the lay of the land, committing it to memory. He doesn't know this is a weird dream place. He doesn't know why he's here. He doesn't know how Sougo came upon the powers he has now. But he trusts Sougo. He's trusted him for a long while now. He won't reject that because, as he's said before, Sougo is the kindest most reliable man he knows.
And Sougo is his friend. ]
How long have you been here?
[ The question is a light one as he drags Sougo along. Almost like small talk. Geiz isn't used to small talk but it comes easy to him in regards to Sougo. To the point where he doesn't even question it anymore. All he knows is that they're in this together now and that's what matters.
If only Tsukuyomi was here, though. ]
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Awhile now, I guess...
[ Over half a year. Don't worry about it, Geiz. ]
I think time works a little differently here than it does in our world.
[ He frowns at himself at that answer, realizing that this statement also opens itself to questions. There might not be much at all he can say right now that doesn't though. ]
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Time always works differently when it comes to us.
[ The sentence is said with a tint of frustration to it as they keep walking. They're used to time shenanigans. They're used to going to the future or the past of even 3 days into the past to fight against all the Another Riders and whatver Oma Zi-O or the Time Jackers throw at them. ]
Now tell me something actually helpful.
[ No, they have not stopped walking. Geiz is still dragging Sougo along even though he has no clue where he's leading them. All he knows is he's taking them further and further away from where Oma Zi-O had been. ]
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Or used to possess, as it were.
And seeing as Sougo didn't have anywhere in particular he was heading, he's happy to let Geiz take the lead. They're bound to stumble across something that needs taking care of at this rate. ]
Ah, well this is a dream! And a really important one too.
[ That's helpful, right? ]
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Okay, no. Geiz won't do that. But he's sorely tempted to because he hates it when Sougo explains things. Sougo explaining things means he doesn't explain anything or he fills the air with nonsense to distract the other person from realizing that he's not exactly saying anything of real importance.
Geiz sighs and tosses a look over his shoulder at Sougo, it's absolutely scathing ]
And just why is it important?
[ Again, that urge to shake Sougo is there again. Right at the edges, waiting for him to give in ]
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It is genuinely a hard one to explain, and he hums to himself as he tries to figure out how to simplify it. ]
In the world that I'm in right now, things look a lot like they do in this dream.
[ There's a half a second before he amends that slightly. ]
Well, it's a little more normal looking than this, but the buildings and layout are mostly the same. Right now though there are people attacking one of the cities of this world, and they put the people of that city to sleep, so we followed them into their shared dream to try to save them.
[ He's quiet for another second before adding something in during the period he should be giving Geiz time to process this. ]
I don't really know how we're supposed to be saving them though, but if we fight anything that shows up and looks dangerous that's probably a good start.
[ It's more thorough than most Sougo explanations at least. ]
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The fact that he has to rely on Sougo in this aspect pisses him off though because he knows Sougo's explanations suck. Right now, not so much because he'd been able to get it out of the other boy what they need to do.
And that's to fight.
Fighting is something Geiz knows and is familiar with more than anything else. He's spent most of his life fighting, so that doesn't bother him. What bothers him is that he doesn't quite know how long Sougo has been here and he doesn't know if he's been doing well. '
Which is something he worries about because it's Sougo and Sougo has a tendency of getting into messes or leading messes back to him to the point where he has to fight off whatever trouble Sougo has gotten himself into. ]
So all we have to do is fight and protect, right?
[ It's not really a question when Geiz knows the answer, but he's trying to keep Sougo talking because maybe he'll slip up and admit something while rambling to him. ]
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Mmm, probably just that.
[ Probably... Probably. It's such a wishy-washy answer, but it's still true. He doesn't know for sure what might arise at any point that requires them to do some kind of non-fighting based challenge. Most of the time Sougo has been able to blast his way out of trouble when it has reared its ugly head here, but not always.
Geiz may or may not try to kill him for that answer, so to be on the safe side Sougo starts to walk just a little faster after giving it. ]
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Just what is that supposed to mean?
[ The look in Geiz's eyes is focused and irritated, he hates it when Sougo slides into half-truths and vague terms. He squeezes Sougo's hand in his own and stares the other boy down with a glare ]
What are you hiding from me?
[ The question itself is terse, but Geiz genuinely needs and wants to know. He's in a strange new place and his supposed "best friend" is hiding things from him. That makes him feel slightly off, even if he doesn't exactly know why ]
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Unlikely.
But he tries an encouraging smile as he grasps Geiz's hand with his own and tries to keep tugging him forward. ]
I'm not hiding anything, it's more I'm not really sure if something else will come up.
[ He hums to himself as he debates how to explain this. ]
The kind of magic I can do? Others can do too, but a lot better, and sometimes in ways that aren't directly meant for fighting. So I'm not really sure what we'll come across.
[ His smile turns wry. ]
It'd be easier if it just ends up being a fight though.
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Has . . . anyone tried to hurt you here?
[ The inquiry is stunted, as if he's not really used to asking how people are. Which is the truth, considering he usually doesn't ask anyone how they are except maybe Tsukuyomi. But guess that's another step closer to gaining Geiz as your best friend, Sougo ]
Not that I care! I just need to know what the dangers are here!
[ A forced explanation, if anything, on Geiz's end. Not that he had to explain but he's still not really used to doing friendship stuff ]
no subject
Ahhh...
[ And it's not just the abruptness of the question that throws him off from being able to answer it quickly. The truth is he hasn't exactly gone by unscathed here, and it hasn't always been his fault that he's gotten into fights. ]
It's probably better to be careful then. There are definitely people and Monsters out there that will want to fight with you, even if you don't know them personally.
[ Which does answer the question about whether anyone has tried to hurt him without actually properly answering the question. ]
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Who. Hurt. You?
[ It's very obvious that Geiz will seek revenge no matter how dangerous the idea is. And right now, even if he doesn't understand why, he wants to beat up everyone who's laid a hand on Sougo in violence. He'd do the same for Tsukuyomi as well.
That's what people get for befriending Geiz. ]
Or I'll ask everyone you know until I get an answer.
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Sougo shakes his head at Geiz's insistence, but he'll still answer that question for him. ]
I did it to myself.
[ The only time that Sougo has truly been hurt, at least. ]
All the other fights I've been in here I don't really know the names of the people I fought, but I've always come out fine. I don't think there's anyone you need to worry about in particular, but... it's still not like dangerous things can't happen here.
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Don't do it to yourself again.
[ He doesn't exactly know what Sougo did to hurt himself, but even if it still bothers him, he's not going to pry at the moment ]
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He doesn't really want to get into that with Geiz right now, however, so he smiles a little too easily at the comment. ]
I don't plan to.
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Good.
[ But he's eyeing Sougo up warily because of that smile ]
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Again.
But he's glad that Geiz isn't pressing the issue for now. ]
Most people here are pretty nice anyway.
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I don't particularly care about the nice people. I care about the ones that hurt others and are a threat to the nice people.
[ Friends? WHO NEEDS FRIENDS? ( Nevermind the fact that Sougo and Tsukuyomi are his best friends ) Still, he has a harsh work ethic and doesn't have any problems trying to implement it onto others who slack off. Which is also why he's still eyeing Sougo up after that smile of his ]
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It might not exactly be what Geiz means, but... ]
There are people like that too. That's actually why things are like this right now.
[ He casts a look around at their setting, where everything looks slightly off in an unsettling way. ]
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