TEST DRIVE MEME (JAN 23')

[myddvaimods]

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.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

Ives | NPC | OTA

[brokenroots]

The bar is open?

You must be joking.

[Ives looms over the waitress who is honestly not having it. She pokes at his stomach with the notepad she has for taking orders, since his chest is too far up for her. Feistily, she barks back at him, "You said to not serve anybody unless in pairs! Anybody includes you! That's the rules!" He doesn't have long to spend arguing about this. Ydris was taking a break from summoning to speak with Ted and he only had a small window to get some food in him. The living fire didn't need to eat, so if Ives lingered too long, he'd get an ear full. That's best avoid, for his sanity.

The Giant looks irritated, but ultimately grumbles and looks to each side of him. He sees some Pull sitting alone and grabs the seat beside them, sitting himself into it. glaring to the waitress,]

Happy? I want a vegetable stir-fry with peanut sauce, no meat. [He looks to the Pulled after,]

And whatever you'd like. We're eating together. [a statement, not a question... unless that Pulled simple gets up and walks off from him, not willing to indulge. Then it will simply become musical chairs of Ives sitting next to whoever is around to claim as his meal partner]

[voidbound]

[ ....?

....

well, daybit sure was getting ignored on his own. this could, in fact, be beneficial. he sits down next to ives, but doesn't give any thanks. ]

Is this the custom in this place?

[ no eating alone, that is.

his ears flicker. anyways. ]

I'll have what you recommend. Do you know if my food habits have to change due to my biological changes?

[brokenroots]

Not any particular custom, no. We wanted you Pulled to socialize with one another. I suggested this method. [which has now turned against him, which is not how it was supposed to shake out. Still, he's a stickler for the rules, especially if they are his rules.

Immediately showing himself as a hypocrite isn't really the look he's going for.

Ives notes that flicked of ears, assessing what form this man must have acquired.]

You should be omnivorous, as all Myddvai Breeds are split from the human root. However, your Rahuth traits may make you more ravenous for a wide variety of foods and drink. Rahuth are known for their desire to feast.

[voidbound]

I see. First meetings can always be a bit awkward. Getting a group together is always tougher than you first imagine.

[ he sighs-- it was for that reason (and many others) that he had forfeited the role of leader to kirschtaria.

at the response to his question, the crypter reaches up to his head, lightly feeling the ears on top. some sort of cat, he figures, perhaps jaguar or cougar--if it's the first one, then there must be someone laughing at the irony of it.

nevertheless, he continues, with little affect in his voice. ]

Interesting. So are these different evolutionary paths that the human race has undergone? Or are they more like possible paths?

[brokenroots]

[Ives makes himself comfortable on his bar stool, which is over-sized to accommodate large creatures like himself. The ceiling is luckily quite high at the bar area.]

Evolution is a word for it. Humans are prone to meddling in powers they do not understand and cannot control. Each split from the root was caused by magic. And magic is prone to solving as many problems as it causes.

[One of Ives' ear flickers and he thinks, for some reason, to ask]

You are not allergic to peanuts, right?

[reirintogo]

[well! Reirin couldn't get up from this barstool and walk away if she wanted to -- she's still all mermaid tail instead of legs, and she'll simply have to figure out the legs part later when her brain isn't occupied with trying to take all the sudden changes in at once.

she does politely pull in the lionfish spines that were sticking out of her robes and into his space to give him room, though, and offers a bright smile.]

My, that's very kind of you, as I was rather at a loss! I think I'd rather like some fried potatoes with a little honey on top, myself. Now would truly be the time for some bracing, filling food, don't you think, Lord Ives? Or is it Sir Ives? I confess I don't know the proper forms of address, here.

[brokenroots]

That can be arranged for you. [The waitress takes down the order as Ives watches to be sure it is correctly done, scampering off to the kitchen. Ives returns his attention to Reirin, humming at the question of title.]

Sir Ives if you insist, but no title is necessary. I have stepped away from rank this lifetime. [usually it would be your highness, but he's not doing the King schtick this time around, someone else has that covered.]

Ydris should be address as their Majesty, so you are aware.

[reirintogo]

My sincerest thanks!

[that was directed at both him and the waitress; she's a polite girl. her eyes flick briefly to Ydris, still standing tall and smoke-wreathed upon the stage, and then back to Ives' face, meeting his gaze fearlessly.]

Thank you for the clarification, as well, Ives. Shall I take it that the Dragon deities are something like the Emperors and Empresses of this realm? It seems rather a dire state of affairs, to have so many of them laid low at once, but everyone here seems to be bearing up well.

[brokenroots]

[Ives' mouth quirks back and forth at the question. Emperors and Empresses... he thinks not, but there's no knowing how such titles work in other worlds. He wants to answer truthfully,]

No, there are mortals who take such positions of mortal authority. They are above that, gods who control far bigger picture aspects of this world. An Emperor here would guide a state and those living within it.

[He appreciates her politeness as much as her boldness, so he appears more at ease than prior. Someone who shrinks away from him doesn't get a more casual tone. That type needs a more stern tone, to be herded about. Not her, it would seem.]

The Dragons oversee things like birth, who holds wealth, and whether it will rain. That is why we call them gods.

[unshurety]

[the winged girl on the next stool gives him a smile that looks like her teeth hurt -- he might not have missed her sharp gaze watching him with a much less friendly expression while he was having his conversation with the server, but after a moment of round-eyed surprise when he stomped over to sit, she clearly decided to go with a less openly antagonistic approach.]

I'll... have whatever you recommend, master.

[brokenroots]

Not master, no, no, no. Never master. [he hates that, he looks like she's said something gross to him. Still, he doesn't lurch away, Ives is too hungry for that.

He should also play nice... His smile looks about as fake in return, his crooked teeth showing.]

Ives is fine. I hold no title this life. How hungry are you?

[unshurety]

[of course, her attempt at flattery didn't work. it wasn't even that big of one, Shu Keigetsu reflects -- master is a perfectly normal if slightly over-obsequious polite address. what kind of revolting false modesty does it take to insist on twisting that around, especially to someone you just yanked here against their will...? what a sly and arrogant summoner this is.]

Sorry if I offended...

[she edits her preference at the last moment, remembering that Reirin's body really can't handle oil or salt.]

Um, something light, please.

[brokenroots]

[Plenty don't mind the address, but Ives finds it distasteful. Very Dark Ages, he would say of it. Which is very literal, given Myddvai had two Ages worth of time before it ever had a sun overhead. Ives saw far too much of both... He'd rather not be reminded with every call of his name of such times.]

Simply avoid it. Sir or no title at all, I care not. [he considers what light would mean for a bird Rahuth.]

Hmm.... how about honey sesame seeds over salmon? That could be baked or pan fried. [fish and seeds, yeah, that's what birds eat.]

[freearcadia]

If one intends to lead, they do have to set an example - no one likes a hypocrite.

[He lowers his forearm, glancing at Ives, sizing him up before giving a faint shrug]

I'll have some steamed mussels then. I notice there seem to a lack of certain items on the menu - is it for cultural reasons or because they can't be digested by those living here?

[brokenroots]

Indeed.

[the waitress is nodding at the addition to the order, chirping that the steamed mussels are a great choice. Ives is who addresses Harlock's question, as she makes her way to the kitchen to get those plated]

Scarcity. Grains and livestock are too difficult to maintain in this realm, there is simply not the space for them. We are currently located deep within the Below Lands; an intricate cave system buried beneath the world's surface.

[freearcadia]

[He makes a mental note of that]

Is there a reason why we're underground instead of being on the surface?

[All kinds of reasons dance across his mind, from diamond rain to sulfuric oceans and scorching binary suns.]

[saltsplash]

[Hey, it's that guy that caused a huge scene! He's going to just. Hop up into a seat next to Ives, all casual-like.]

You're the other person who brought us here instead of us getting spat out in some random part of the world. Ives, right?

[brokenroots]

[Ives just stares and moment in processing that and then slow blinks.]

Ives, yes, I brought you here.

[Before, deadass,]

The rest I have no idea what you're talking about.

[saltsplash]

[GRK-- Reigen's head swivels and he glares at Ydris across the room. That little shit!]

They got me!! Damn it, I was almost sympathetic!

[GRINDING TEETH. His fingers were twitching, itching to throw something, but he was somewhat controlling himself...]

I'm going to fill all that melted wax with salt.

[stopfen]

[Mikasa almost flinched at the chair next to her being moved, her new deer ears flapping as she turned her head. Luckily no one got hit by her antlers.]

I'll have the same... [She didn't know what most the things on the menu were. She'd recognize an ingredient, but that didn't mean much.

And then Mikasa realised who it was. One of the two that had pulled them here. Her ears fell as she sat there, thinking of something to say.]

...How often do people grow extra legs out of their ass here?

[Not the most eloquent way to ask about centaurs. But here she was, with a fuzzy deer butt partly hidden under the side of the table.]

[brokenroots]

Most are born that way. Being pulled into this world as Giant is fairly rare. Twins tend to be the only ones who arrive that way.

[Ives adds a couple of waters with lemon to the order, he needs to rehydrate before getting on stage again... they have more to do, after he eats. Mingling shouldn't take up too much of his time just yet.]

Do you happen to have a twin? I might be destined to grab them in soon enough.

[stopfen]

[It was small, but she winced. The idea of someone giving birth to twins with bodies like her's was... That didn't sound pleasant.

Mikasa just got water to go with her stir-fry. She'd have the most basic meal possible.]

No. I didn't have any siblings. [Even if she was suspicious of the reason for Doctor Yeager's visit all those years ago. She'd not realised as a child, but she'd never know for sure.]

[eugenesis]

[A purple humanoid partway into transforming into a full mermaid stares at the menu, completely lost. When he was mind-melded with a human for a few days, Scorponok understood the organic need to eat, and Abraham Dante preferred meat-based meals with some kind of cooked vegetable. Then there was the whiskey, but like hell that counts for dinner. Everything here is a mystery.

Cybertronians have metals and Energon for food, and each dish has its own unique flavor profile. It must be the case here, but all the names are gibberish to him.]

I don't know where to start. [He doesn't look at the Giant that joined him.]

[brokenroots]

Given your appearance, you might enjoy some raw fish. Thin cut salmon and tuna should be available.

[Crustaceans tend to eat the flesh of other sea life, so far as Ives is aware. Giants like himself don't often have a taste for much meat, preferring vegetation based foods for the bulk of their diet. That does not go for mermaids. They live out in the water and they eat what is out in the water.]

[eugenesis]

Tuna. [It’s an easier word to remember. There’s a “tuna bowl” on the menus that lists other ingredients - perhaps Scorponok shall sample the various flavors in organic food.]

This one. [He points at the attendant, then at the menu.] Tuna bowl with potatoes .