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myddvai2023-01-21 11:17 am
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TEST DRIVE MEME (JAN 23')
TEST DRIVE MEME
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Arc Introduction, Month 0
The Pull
Falling asleep, closing one's eyes to die, or simply walking through a doorway... it only takes the slightest lapse of consciousness for the magic to take hold. That sudden feeling of falling within a dream overtakes the senses, lasting far longer than it should. If lucky or nimble, feet will hit the floor rather than spine or face.
Characters find themselves pulled into a new world without warning, and they are now in the spotlight. Literally. From their new vantage point from center stage in a cabaret, they can just barely make out the strange, sprawling figures that form their audience. Hulking animal shapes sit at tables and lean against walls, defining the edges of the dark space. The floorboards glow with untold power, etched with countless runes and scripts, radiating power and… a strangely pleasant smell of vanilla and cinnamon fills the air.
"Charming," says a seemingly disembodied voice, tone bored despite the compliment, "Let this one stay, I'm intrigued by them."
"Suboptimal," responds another voice, this time clearly to the right and behind. Looking over a shoulder, the two speaking stand on opposite sides from one another.
The last to speak, a seven-foot tall goat man, is holding a broken shepherd's staff. The whole of the item is glowing with power and strands of magic wind outward like thread or like marionette strings, as they trail to the new arrivals body at all their joints. The goat man sighs and lowers the staff, dispelling the magic and the strands like extinguishing a flame. Colorful sparks and embers erupt and rise all around the stage, before cooling and disappearing into thin air.
"Welcome, you're one of the Pulled. Now, get off the stage," says that first voice again, from the other figure. They are a slim person of ambiguous gender and seemingly timeless age. They crack a smirk, "we have more of your kind to summon, the good Secretary Theodore will explain further,"
With that, it's time to explore what this strange place and experience holds, because there's seemingly no going back now.
Theodore is not his name...
Whether going willingly or getting kicked off, the most recent Pulled is moved into the off-stage area. A man waits, looking uneasy and stressed but doing his best to project some air of competency. He'll shake hands with anybody who'd like to but doesn't seem surprised or offended if they don't take his hand.
"Good to meet you. I'm Ted, Ydris' secretary," he has an overall exhausted air to him, as he pushes up his glasses.
Every Pulled gets the same, rehearsed explanation of what's going on.
First, a welcome to Myddvai, the name of the world they now find themselves pulled into. Myddvai is the vast World Tree, floating pleasantly through space. It is a highly magical place and thus not always the easiest to explain. He heeds that Pulled might want to curve any... expectations of perfect consistency. This world is highly unpredictable.
In the most basic terms, Myddvai is controlled by forces of Chaos and Order. All magic falls between these two extremes and is, curiously, denoted by flavor. The curious scent of cinnamon and vanilla is caused by the magic at work, summoning in the various Pulled. Ted introduces the two on the stage as Ydris and Ives, who are currently the two most powerful beings active on Myddvai. He urges that getting on either of their bad sides would be unwise.
The two on stage have devised this ritual summoning because the whole of Myddvai is in trouble. Ydris is one of five Dragon Deities, the living gods that oversee the natural order and chaotic forces throughout Myddvai.
Due to "a mishap," the other four Dragons are all unconscious. Many groups are scrambling to find their own solutions or, more concerningly, using this opportunity to seize various forms of control.
Ydris is aligned to Order and cannot allow such grabs at power on their, suddenly very solo, watch. Ives, who is a being with wisdom more ancient than even the gods of this world, has enlisted himself to help with this. The two agree they need outsiders with no biases on the politics of this world, and no motivation outside of what Ydris and Ives can offer them all. The prize for cooperation is a simple choice:
"Pulled are welcome to remain in the world and live out their mortal lives in luxury, heroes that will be favored by all the gods... or, be returned to your homes with new life and power. Even if you aren't interested in going home, there are others who are." Ted glances away for a moment, before his gaze returns to the Pulled, "The choice will be each of yours to make... provided you cooperate. If you're not interested in helping, you can be a normal citizen of the world. That's always an option."
Beyond that overwhelming lore dump, Ted can only answer so many further questions, but feel free to inquire with Ted. He's mostly around to field each Pulled as they're directed off stage to meet him. Other Pulled who have already heard the script can hang around in his space longer, but they'll probably get tired of the same speech over and over. Ted looks like he would love to stop...
Join the Audience
"You can join the rest of the audience. Mingle as much as you'd like," Ted urges to those done with their orientation.
There is only a curtain blocking the backstage from the seating area. Joining the audience reveals that the figures watching this ritual are animal, insect, and arachnid people. Dog, rat, bat, snake... all manner of heads sit expressively upon more human bodies, all dressed in sharp suits, gowns, or mixtures thereof. This appears to be quite the fancy affair!
These are Springtide Vampires, the aristocratic leaders of this particular culture. They eagerly invite Pulled in pairs to sit and socialize with them.
While a few lick their chops at the new arrivals, they insist they are not out for off-world blood. No, what they want is connections to the Pulled. Springtide Families are all headed by a Vampire, and those who grant resources to this endeavor are being promised great favors or riches by Ydris. So, they are hungry for clout more than anything. A few Vampires are interested in making conversation about themselves, but most prefer to simply eavesdrop on any Pulled sitting at their tables and speaking with one another.
Pulled who are especially interesting or social will be slipped a calling card with a family crest: Rat, Dog, Raven, Moth, Cat, or Spider. The Vampire granting the card will instruct Pulled that this will be valuable soon. So, hold onto it for later and guard it against thieves. Pulled can only acquire one of these cards each, so choose carefully. If Pulled decide to trade among themselves, that may come with future consequences.
((Note: Vampires will be NPCs available for interaction below, but players are free to handwave basic interactions, as described above. Receiving one of the calling cards can also be done at player discretion.))
The bar is open to a new you
At the far end of the cabaret is a long bar leading to a kitchen. Mysteriously, the cabaret has no discernable exit. There is a row of seats facing the bartenders and another facing the stage. Both rows are exclusive for Pulled, set aside from the Vampires. Everybody who was pulled in arrived wearing whatever they last had on. If an outfit was too revealing, damaged, or just not comfortable, then Pulled are offered a silken robe and slippers to wear instead.
Whether a waitress or bartender addresses a Pulled, they refer to them as their Myddvai Breed. "What would you like to drink, Elf?" "You look like a hungry Rahuth! How about something from the kitchen?" and so on. All Pulled take on recognizable characteristics native to Myddvai, features determined by the Pull of the universe. Any who ask are told that features are likely to continue to manifest the longer they're on Myddvai. Some Pulled might also experience their form shifting wildly between different breeds and are assured that will settle down eventually. This kind of transformation isn't painful, only strange to experience. Pulled can get told all the basic information available on Myddvai breeds at this time.
Pulled have plenty of time to chat just among themselves at the bar. If endless, freely provided alcohol isn't enough to loosen the tongue, then perhaps sharing a meal will? Pulled are required to order food as pairs or parties, individual requests won't be served. The menu is distinctly lacking in grains, dairy, and red meat, exclusively having vegetable dishes and various seafood on offer. It's all very flavorful and filling, seasoned well, and delivered warm.
If you're facing the stage, there's plenty more being pulled in... and come to find out, not everybody is allowed to stay.
The Ice Storm
Watch and it becomes clear that the ritual doesn't always result in worthwhile Pulled.
The room swells as the pair of powerful beings do each half of the summons. Ives steadies his staff and draws in the smoke generated by Ydris, who looks entirely different. Their human illusion is dropped during a summoning, showing their true form as a fantastical, wax-bodied being of fire and metal. Flames all swirl intensely, creating a smoke that is wound into concentrated magical strings of energy. These lines are what pull people out from their worlds, causing a void in reality from which they arrive through. The tear is quickly stitched back together by those same thread, weaving the space back together again behind the new arrival.
If a Pulled is deemed unworthy, Ives points the staff at them. A flash of light overtakes the entire room. The Vampires appear to all know just the time to duck or hide their eyes when this happens. Except a certain Sir Goodpoint the flash is his favorite part.
After this light dissipates, the person is gone. Seemingly returned home. One would... hope. The next ritual begins again, people stay or go. There seems to be a completely unknown ranking system at play. The Vampires casually mention how many Stars someone is worth in passing. Not everybody chosen has a high rank by this measure, so that doesn't seem to be the deciding factor.
A semi-regular occurrence is the Ice Storm. This is when an unwanted character is Pulled multiple times and everybody in attendance has gotten just so fed up with seeing them. One of the front-row Vampires seems to have started a trend, that of plucking an ice cube from their drink and throwing it at the offending Pulled. Basically, everybody in the audience takes this as a great opportunity to pelt the unwanted Pulled until Ives makes them go away, jeering and booing are optional.
All Pulled in the audience are given cups of ice, wordlessly encouraged to participate. Nobody subjected to the Ice Storm is allowed to remain. Any who stand to object to this will get the Ice Storm directed at themselves, instead. It won't get a Pulled who was already chosen sent back home, but they will get a good pelting for their trouble.
It also makes for a progressively funnier show as new Pulled appear and slip on the remains of the previous Ice Storm. Glad that wasn't you, right? Or maybe it was and now you understand why...
OOC Notes
Welcome to the Test Drive Meme for Myddvai's First Season! This post is Open To All for play, both those with and without invites to our game are welcome to play in this space. Players are allowed to play around with their character as any of the available breeds while on the TDM. TDM breed choice does not need to match an application. All threads from the TDM can remain canon even if breed is changed later when applying to game. The lore reason for this would be instability of a character's form when first pulled in. Breed choice cannot currently be changed once within the game, so choose wisely when applying! As a reminder, TDM participation is a required part of our Application to join. Both top leveling your characters and tagging around is encouraged! For those without Invites who are interested in applying, feel free to join our discord and inquire about potentially receiving an invite. All Mod Invited Players are allowed to extend unlimited invites to those they wish. For those with invitations, Reservations are open along with this TDM! Please put in a Reservation if you are intending to join the game. Applications open on the 1st of February and priority will be given to Reserved players. The first round of acceptances to the game will go out Feb. 4th along with an IC Introduction Event. Not sure what Breed you want to pick for your character? Head over to our Design Workshop! Moderation and other potential players would be happy to help brainstorm.
Evaline | Original
[ When Evaline fled from her home in search of adventure, freedom, new experiences, this is not what she'd had in mind. She thought she'd visit a few villages, perhaps get to know the people of the world, and return home to plead for forgiveness from her mother for worrying her, not all of this. This is, granted, not what her mother had warned her against, but it nonetheless seems more than suspect in nature.
For her part, Evaline remains utterly silent, plastered to any free wall space that she's able to find, hands clutching tightly to her cloak that casts her entire form in shadow. If you're able to get a better look, you'll see that something about her isn't quite... right. Her skin is pallid, nearly grey, eyes sunken in, lips pale. A glimpse from underneath the cloak may reveal lines of neat, tidy stitches around her body; a neat line attaching an ear, winding around an exposed wrist, a finger that's just slightly too long for her hand...
A hand that is seized by one of the vampires, only to have her yank it away, clearly panicked by even the friendliest of approaches, clutching her cloak to her so tightly she may well rip it off. ] No! No, no, please, I don't want to -- I'll just watch. I can watch.
[ A little help? ]
b. the bar.
[ Evaline had refused all food offered to her, no matter how kindly, no matter how often the servers had emphasized the new forms they were given and just how delicious their wares are. It doesn't taste of anything anyway, Evaline knows. It never has. But looking around at her fellow Pulled she begins to see what their hosts do: that everyone here is not quite recognizable in species, that people are touching their new animal ears with wonderment, that they have been changed.
Finally, she works up the courage to speak to another one of the Pulled, her voice high and piping, gentle, and terribly nervous. ] Pardon me! [ She clears her throat. ] Is it true what they say? That they're... changing us? How is this possible?
c. ice storm.
[ Stay out of sight, stay out of trouble. People will take the opportunity they're given to hurt you. That's what mother always said. They will dissect you, they will burn you at the stake, they will stone you to death, rip you limb from limb.
Having a bunch of ice cubes hurled at you seems mild by comparison. Despite the fact that Evaline doesn't believe this to be correct, she won't interfere either. After all, who knows what they'll do to her? But one question burns in her brain. ]
...how do they judge it? If someone is worthy. They don't even know them.
a
[Luckily for her, Eli's about as intimidating as any of the strange beings currently hovering around her: he's tall, built, and his scowling face is framed by a pair of thick, curled horns. He closes the gap between himself, Evaline, and the spider-headed vampire in just a few seconds. (Long strides and all.) He and the vampire stare each other down for a tense moments-- his brow furrowed low, the spider's mandibles clicking in irritation-- before the vampire relents, muttering grouchily to themselves. He watches them leave with a glower, then huffs out a breath through his nostrils.] Bastard.
[At last, Eli folds his arms over his chest and turns to the young woman. Yes, he has done a public service for another Pulled; no, he is not polite.]
And you: the hell're you doing, standing around like an idiot? You're a sitting duck. They're gonna mob you.
no subject
And it's not as though Evaline needs people to have kind demeanors. They usually don't. But she usually meets them in a place where she calls the shots, and she has no frame of reference for how she's supposed to act in a place like this. She doesn't think she would even if she spent her life as a free woman. ] Thank you for your help, [ she says, ducking her head a little at the gentleman who intervened. She stiffens her spine as he admonishes her. When she speaks, her thin pipe of a voice is perhaps surprisingly firm, though she's still clearly far out of her depth. ] What else am I supposed to do? It's not as though they'll let us leave. Or that I'd be less of a target if I was literally sitting. [ Her eyes - one slightly milky, as though she has cataracts - darts towards the door, and back at him. ] Unless you have suggestions, sir?
b.
Though his tone is more stern than it is needling. He's sure many Pulled are confused and the overview Ted gave them was only so detailed. Clearing up misconceptions is wise for him to do, as a leader.]
We are not the ones who changed you, only pulled you through. Myddvai itself changes people. A quirk of its nature. [his square pupil eyes narrow, looking curiously to try and spot what features, or perhaps lack-there-of, she was manifesting. Is she human? If so, was she always human-? Ives can't tell at a glance.
Right, he should be more compassionate. Ydris is the rude one, he should try to be... nicer. He's not the nicest person, but an attempt can be made.]
Are you experiencing any discomfort? We have healers on hand, if you feel pain or are lacking any typical sensations.
no subject
Oh, no, no, that's quite all right, [ she hastens to say, waving a somewhat frantic hand at him. ] But thank you for the thought, ah -- Mister Ives.
[ She remembers him. Oh, drat. Why did she have to go on and catch the attention of someone with authority here? ]
I was just curious. I've never heard that such a thing could even be possible. But please, do you know, does this change us all the way? From one species to another? Without exception? Or do we maintain some of, well, what we already are?
no subject
The only way to know is to wait and see. I cannot tell what you are becoming, bundled up like that. [he makes no move to try and uncover her, in fact he's stone still to talk with her. Ives stands like he's wound so tight he'll snap at any moment. Not precisely an comforting posture... but his tone is level and he speaks very calmly]
no subject
I see, [ she says weakly, wondering how to ask what she needs to ask without completely revealing her quandary. Surely she would count as someone who the world would demand to change. Her very being is odd, evil, unnatural. She doesn't care what type of creature she becomes, as long as she's no longer this -- this place could be her ticket out of the fate that has been thrust upon her. ]
Then... a question, of biology. I've noticed all the food here is made up of vegetables and fish. I've noticed, too, a lot of deer? And other herbivores? So. [ She anxiously twists her hands together. ] Let's say you're a carnivorous species. Does that mean, then, that you may turn into an herbivore while you're here?
[ There. A specific enough question to get some answers, but vague enough that it shouldn't arouse too much suspicion. It's not as though she can say, hey, I really need to hunt down a rat to devour. She prefers to do that privately anyway. ]
no subject
[she seems nervous about this, but it's a valid question all the same. Many mermaids don't eat much in way of vegetables that aren't from the sea. Usually, people eat what is available and adapt to their surroundings.]
For an example, I no longer have a taste for red meat. I can eat it without becoming ill, but the taste is something I find foul.
no subject
[ She pauses, staring at the man in front of her. ]
You mean you were human too? I thought that being one of this place's authorities, you were born and raised here. [ She brings her thumb to her mouth, gnawing a little on her nail as her mind races. It's possible she wasn't listening clearly enough, overwhelmed as she was, but all she can do is try to learn as much as she can. It's what she did all those years, cooped up inside, and it's what she'll do now. It's all she has. ]
Were you pulled here too? And you chose to stay?
no subject
He frowns, but eventually catches himself up in the moment to answer. Frankly. As he always is.]
I was born human, in the First Age of this world. That was before we kept time. I became a giant by drowning in raw magic, which revived myself and my sister. From then on we were... well, I am as you see me now. I live and die and live again, but my memories return to me in adulthood.
[a slow blink, his vision looking less hazy]
Does that answer make any sense? I can try again.
c
Most of them can't, all the ones throwing ice. They're just reacting to the judgements of the ones summoning us. Those guys... they're magic-workers.
[ His nerves ease into enthusiasm. ]
Magic-workers are strange. They see things we can't, and "their minds work sideways" -[ always a good time to quote one's favorite authors ]- also summoning is apparently very experimental magic here, so probably not even other magic-workers could explain what it is those two are looking for.
[ A lot of words just to say "idk magic". Nod that wasn't helpful at all. ]
no subject
[ Not that she's brilliant at what she does. But her theoretical knowledge far outweighs her practical knowledge, and she's certainly rarely heard of such a thing. She glances over to the man beside her - a friendly looking sort, she thinks, in a sort of way that puts her a little more at ease - and tries not to stare at the ears, the tail. She may be growing those too. She can't decide how she feels about that.
Instead, she casts her attention back at the summonings. ]
Unless... maybe it's something physical they're looking for? I suppose they never specified what it means to be worthy.
no subject
You're a magic-worker? Really?! Er -[ he eases back his excitement, visibly forcing himself to temper his expectations ]- or, perhaps you're just a fan of the research? I've never known a lot about the real stuff either way, most of my experience is from a book series, and I'm sure the author took some liberties, ah...
[ He looks a little embarrassed as he realizes what precisely he just said. He coughs sheepishly before resuming conversation. ]
...You're right, they never defined 'worthiness' at all... if it's something they can tell at a glance, maybe it is physical...
[ He ponders for a moment. ]
I suppose they might not be looking for the same thing in everybody, either - maybe they're looking for traits or skills or something that would compliment each other? It did sound like they expect us all to work together to some extent - or can magic not read people's abilities either...?
[ His own knowledge is from novels. If she knows about real magic, whether as a practitioner or simply someone who dabbles in theory, she'll obviously know better than him here. ]
no subject
This is it! Her first actual conversation! And no, she wasn't anticipating it be in a place like this (she had, somewhere in her heart, a conversation with some sweet soul at a tavern who had the ability to look beyond appearances), but she's not about to take it for granted. ]
I'm not that good at it yet, and my mother is far better at it than I am, but I'm still learning! Still, I know enough of the fundamentals to know that judging someone's character with magic is lacking. Your idea makes much more sense. But if they're looking for something in particular... [ She gnaws on one of her fingernails before yanking it away, visibly chastising herself for the bad habit. ]
Well. I know they want us to cooperate, but I'm not sure what it is they want us to do. What do you do, um... I never got your name?
no subject
Oh, she's asking him questions. What's she asking about, uh, he thinks he caught it, uh, uh...
His expression manages to mostly look perplexed as he mentally fumbles around. Name? Right, she'd definitely asked that. ]
Er, Nod von Tel Mæklin, that's my name, heh.
[ Wait no that wasn't the only question, what was the other one? ...Oh. He turns sheepish as he realizes she's asked what he does. He laughs a bit, awkwardly. ]
Oh, um... not much... mostly read. It's not that I don't have any skills of course, it's just I... kind of... don't do anything in particular...
[ Fifth in line for the throne is a very "yet another extra spare" role. It's not like he has a trade or anything like that. ]
no subject
[ She shrugs. ]
I think... if I could get away with not really doing anything in particular, I'd spend all my time reading too. Or traveling! Which is what I was going to do, when -- well. This isn't quite what I had in mind for my first adventure. [ She places a hand on her cheek. ] I certainly wasn't thinking of anything so grand. It must feel like something straight out of your stories.
1/2
[ He's never been called "Mister" in his life, that's a tradesman's title; he's always been just "Nod" or else "your highness". He's not sure how he feels about being called "Mister" when he doesn't even have a proper craft... His homeland's always had a healthy respect for skilled workers, and Nod thinks he'd feel a bit like a fraud to use a title he definitely hasn't earned.
He's left a bit at a loss for words in that moment, and he's very relieved when Evaline keeps talking. It's much easier to listen than to be the one talking sometimes. He can relate to wanting to travel, and he's impressed that she'd actually set out to do so already... ]
2/2
Oh, it is! There's one volume of the "Purple Night" trilogy that actually focuses on someone leaving their own world, and - well, that's actually kind of beside the point, isn't it. But yes, this is very exciting, and I just... I mean, technically we've been kidnapped, but it's so hard to focus on the negatives.
We'll have to be on our guards, of course, but everything's so... different, so interesting! I don't know how this place stands for a magic-worker - or, "magic-user", you said? Is there a difference? - anyway, for me this place is fascinating, and we've barely done anything yet!
bar
Now, she was growing little antlers and had fur on her arms. It'd only been a few hours since she'd arrived.]
Unfortunately. No idea how... Or why. [Sorry. She knew nothing.]
no subject
[ And not to trap them in this place -- all Evaline wants is some privacy with a mirror to see if she's changed, how much she's changed, some time to herself to try to figure out what's going on. All of this all at once is simply too overwhelming. ]
It can't just be cosmetic, it -- oh. [ Somehow, she didn't notice. She nearly reaches out to touch Mikasa's arm, then yanks it back, thinking better of it at the last second. ] Your fur, and your horns. Are they new?
no subject
She didn't move at the attempted touching, just stared. Excus-yes, good. Be polite.]
I didn't have them an hour ago... [Very new.] My body still feels weird. [Not painful, just off. Tingly. She couldn't really describe it.]
no subject
If we change that quickly, some of us will be entirely changed by tomorrow, even. Does it hurt? Do you feel like you need to see a doctor? I suppose doctors here would just say everything is proceeding as normal, though.
no subject
No, it just feels annoying. Like when you get a stone in your boot.