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

Ted 🐿️ NPC

[secretarial]

[ He's standing here for questions and harassment. ]

[saltsplash]

[He was doing his best to be patient for all of this information. He really, really, really was. Despite the foot tapping anxiously and the leering and the intense silent urgency to get to the point, he managed to let Ted through the spiel.

But at the end of it? He stomps a foot forward, and immediately starts talking over Ted's oh so helpful 'any questions?' line.]

Are you telling me that we're being strong-armed into this weird LARPing by those two,

[He points to Ydris and Ives, of course,]

and we're just expected to put up and shut up when we've been abducted?? Some promise of special powers or whatever doesn't make up for the fact that we've gotten taken from our homes! You all have no idea if there are people dependent on us being there or not, people could be in serious trouble or worse! That's irresponsible!

[secretarial]

[He didn't even want to be stuck doing the Q&A session, but here he is. As soon as he hears yelling, he flinches back, the squirrel on his shoulder mimicking his actions.]

Sorry... I got stuck here too. Believe me, I'd love to get back myself, but... [Ted looks helpless about it. He doesn't even have that kind of magic.]

[unshurety]

[this girl didn't take Ted's hand, though she's doing her best to click the volume and pitch sliders down a click or two from her first reaction to demand an explanation on stage. indeed, it looks like she's even slowed her movements down to something more deliberately graceful, though the awkwardness with which she's shifting her feathered shoulderblades is ruining the effect.]

You-- I mean, [she takes a breath] Master Ted.

[it can't hurt to add honorifics instead of calling someone "you," even if she's spending valuable energy trying to control her temper and already pretty sure this guy is punching bag for people above him. just because he's an easy target doesn't mean that she'll be forgiven by these strangers if she bullies him -- she's an even easier one.]

F...forgive me, but... what about our magics? And how long have these dragons even been asleep, anyway?

[secretarial]

[Yeah, he gets it. There's a lot to deal with.

He puts his hands down and talks to her.]

Ted is fine, honestly.

Um... You seem like a Rahuth, so that magic is shapeshifting.

The dragons have been asleep for a few days.

[fridrich]

[Banri sympathizes with Ted, really. Being the secretary of one of the goons up on stage - both of which seem to have trying personalities - must be a pain. So, Banri humors the guy and listens to his spiel.

It's a very fun fantasy, sounding like something straight out of an isekai anime, but none of it matters because it's clearly just a dream. Banri's certain. He had just fallen asleep before he ended up on stage, after all.

He's clearly not taking this seriously. Even if he was, though...]

So is it Ted or Theodore?

[... someone had to ask eventually, right?]

[secretarial]

[He looks a bit tired. Is Ydris still out there calling him Theodore?]

I'm Ted.

You seem really calm, all things considered?

[reirintogo]

[Reirin hasn't exactly adjusted to being transformed into a half-woman half-lionfish yet, and seems to be having trouble getting the hang of regaining her legs in this first burst of post-summoning chaos, but someone's helped her down off the stage to this area, at least. she does seem a little shell-shocked by the change in scenery, though definitely not angry or scared as one might expect.]

Oh, my...but, are you doing well yourself, sir Ted? It can't be easy, managing so many of us who are new to this.

[secretarial]

I'm doing alright. It's just... really busy today. Let me know if you need something.

[Oh wait. He shoves his glasses up his nose as he looks at the stage for a moment. And then his gaze settles back on Reirin.]

I can't promise I can get everything, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[voidbound]

You look exhausted.

[ daybit cocks his head to the side, speaking in a neutral voice. ]

Even if we don't cooperate, we are allowed to stay in this world, you say. Does our presence alone help this world in some way, or is this their form of tourism?

[secretarial]

[He gives a nod of acknowledgement. His endless exhaustion is just a fact of life now.]

It's more like... Since you were brought, you can just live here. They do need help to wake up the dragons, but if you're not interested, that's that.

[humantwo]

Surprisingly, Mewtwo does take the offered hand. Instead of shaking it, however, he grasps it at the wrist. And then the forearm. And then both shoulders.

He is bewildered, he is haggard, he is dressed only in an oversized brown cape, and most importantly he is human.

“Change me back.”

At least his voice sounds the same. But it is jarring that it has a sound - that he is hearing it, with his ears, and not merely projecting it into the minds of those around him.

[secretarial]

Actually. You know what. Maybe he shouldn't be shaking peoples' hands left and right if this is how it's going to keep going.

"I don't have any ability to do that."

[stopfen]

[Mikasa accepted the handshake, even if her grip was probably stronger than required.]

Your boss called you Theodore... [Casually, like he didn't already know. Just keep calm, there might be strange people everywhere but they were willing to talk instead of trying to kill them. It could have been worse.

Finally, she let go of his hand.]

So, we can't go back unless we cooperate.

[Unimpressed.jpg Because that was what it was sounding like. Cooperate and get a place to stay or something back home, or remain trapped.]

[secretarial]

They like longer names, I guess?

[Please, he's just Ted. He just can't get Ydris to call him that.]

That's correct, I'm sorry. Through waking up the dragons you'll be able to get back home.

Re: Ted 🐿️ NPC

[freearcadia]

[He hung back and listen to the others before approaching, taking Ted's hand in a firm, but not crushing handshake]

I suppose there's a reason why my weapons weren't brought along with me.

[Polite as his handshake was, his tone was blunt and to the point]

Or whatever... is going on with my body.

[secretarial]

[ He wonders where his life went so wrong that not feeling his hand getting crushed was a novelty. ]

Getting pulled doesn't bring weapons along with you. But there's a possibility Ydris can forge something similar in the future.

As for your body, that's a quirk of coming to this world. People end up as one of the breeds that live here. It's rare people are human.

[fivebooktrilogy]

[ Nod had openly gaped at his new surroundings upon appearing onstage; once he's moved offstage, he becomes irritatingly aware that 1-his shoes are gone and his feet probably wouldn't fit into them now anyway; 2-he's somehow gotten shorter; 3-he has a large squirrel tail which keeps twitching without his intent. With the way he seems focused on the distraction provided by his new tail, ultimately grabbing it in both arms to keep it still, Ted would be forgiven for assuming Nod isn't also paying attention to the spiel. Once said spiel is done however, Nod turns his attention fully on Ted, his gray eyes having an oddly piercing quality once focused. ]

You said we could be returned "with new life and powers". Does that mean even if we go back, we're stuck like this? As exciting as the rest of it might be, I'm not used to being part squirrel.

[ Nod doesn't want to make too much of a fuss over himself, but... this is decidedly a complaint. A complaint is being lodged. ]

[secretarial]

[The squirrel on Ted's shoulder views his almost kin with some interest, though he makes no move to approach Nod.]

Uh... Nobody's been sent back before and been able to establish contact back to Myddvai. To be honest, I don't know if you'll stay like this.

[He's only been here for a year himself, and there's not too much he knows compared to the people who are actually from here.]

Re: Ted 🐿️ NPC

[noodleboi]

[After MK slips on ice, falls on the stage, then rolls off the stage and hits the floor, he makes his way to Ted. He does shake the man's hand as he looks him over. He looks tired. Fancy but tired. MK tries to listen to the explanation but his mind wonders. The offer of staying here or going home does ping his interest.]

So if we help, we get stuff. I mean, a hero should help anyway but a reward would be nice for once.

New powers? I mean, I already have cool powers. Can I get something else new? Like something to help me fix my mistakes? That would be awesome.

[secretarial]

[Ted didn't see the slip, but he does observe him rolling over.

He shakes his hand back, grateful for any bit of normalcy he can get.]

You'll have the powers that your Myddvai breed has.

What do you mean by your mistakes?

[chaoscontrol]

[then LET THERE BE HARASSMENT. Because Shadow wants it known he is not pleased. All four foot two of this hedgehog-based Night Elf is up in Ted's grill. Used to being shorter than the humans around him, his magic doesn't kick in yet. He grabs a handful of Ted's shirt in his claws and snarls, quills erect and stridulating]

The concerns of this world are no concern of mine. Tell your "dragon" to send me home. Immediately.

[secretarial]

[He wheezes the second he's grabbed.]

I really don't have that kind of power.

[discharger]

[You get the armless version due to the sequence of introductory events, and thus Theodore does not get his handshake. To his credit(????), although he's a little ruffled and somewhat the worse for the wear after being deposited very awkwardly in this body and then yeeted off the stage in some fashion, Nue sort of lifts one of his legs at him.

Attempt made? He looks a bit like a confused dog but with like, hooves.]

Good Secretary Ted, right? [who is he to know whether Ted is a valid name for Theodore, y'all fantasy westerners] That's a hard job anywhere.

[There's a wry glance over at the bosses of the hour, so to speak, though Nue is perhaps surprisingly quiet in all the fracas of being newly here and amid the chaos of everyone else arriving; he listens. He makes a number of faces at ye olde spiel that range from unreadable to thoughtful to not-quite-pleased to sneezing from the cinnamon (RIP he cannot cover the sneeze either), but he does seem to be taking things in.]

Can't say as I'm not indebted to your boss... bosses? For the new body. I was getting tired of the old one. [shaking his head, made ponderous by the weird weight of his ears (NEW!)] But, ahh, what was that you were saying about new life and power?

[secretarial]

[It's hard not to feel sympathetic to people who've had their entire body plans changed on them. He gives a nod of acknowledgement since the handshake is currently impossible.]

That's right.

[Secretary work is one of many jobs he's had over the years after he finished his bachelor's degree. Though he thinks it would be somewhat difficult to write that kind of thing onto resume back at home... "Where's your former employer?" "In another world."]

Ah, yes. The details haven't been totally sorted out yet, but that's what they've been saying.