myddvai | 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.

code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hector raises his left hand to give the giant the finger. The motion tugs at the bandages on his missing ring finger, and he chokes on the wine he's still sipping. After a moment of sputtering and coughing, he hisses out a quiet 'fuck'.

He puts down the goblet only because he needs a hand to put pressure on the wound and make sure it hasn't opened back up.]

Why have an open bar if you're going to let us make use of it?

[Hector's grumpy and, honestly, if his metabolism is changing, seems like the quickest way to find out which way it's running is by experimentation. He doesn't need this judgey goat's approval.]

Rushing to make yourself sick won't get you out of this.

[flat and truthful, the Ives way. He gestures to a waiter, instructing him to take an order of whatever Hector might light to eat. They'll be sharing, yes, they're following the rules, yes.]

Order something to have with your wine. Then we can talk about replacing your finger, if you wanted as much.

[Ives is vastly underestimating the lengths Hector will go to drag his feet if he doesn't want to do something.

But food actually does sound nice. he turns to the waiter.]

Do you know how to make horta?

[If not, he's happy to give them a brief description of the dish, which he hasn't had since he came to Wallachia. He's not one for homesickness, generally, but a taste of home sounds really good right about now.

He turns back to Ives.]

It's still healing. Once it's scarred over, I'll see if a wooden finger is worth the trouble.

[He's assuming that's the best he's going to get, since forgemasters can't forge on themselves. At least, not that Hector's been able to figure out.]

[The waiter will make notes and say they'll give it a shot, with substitutions. The Chef here isn't afraid of a challenge.]

Don't wait on it. The Springtide Druids can make you a living prosthetic of sorts. You'll have feeling and full motion returned to it that way.

[That gets Hector's attention. His sour mood dissolves into curiosity.]

Really? How? Is it necromancy?

[He looks excited at the prospect.]

No. [said harshly, though he grinds his teeth in mouth briefly before correcting that, somewhat.] Or it shouldn't be.

It is a healing technique. They infuse a rune inscribed bottle with magic and living plants. Some can replace full limbs that way. A finger would be no issue. [he's trying not to sound impressed, but it is quite the feat... and also sometimes for feet!]

[Hector frowns a little at that disapproving tone at the suggestion of necromancy. It's not enough to outweigh the idea of a living plant prosthetic, though.]

A plant that offers sensation? And you can replace whole limbs with them?

[He pushes his dish aside.]

And where do I find these druids? Will they let me watch them ascribing their runes?

They are very secretive of the practice. Given it will need to be fitted ascribed to you, you may be able to see some of the process.

[Ives knows this is his duty to encourage, so he'll be back for his food later. This should come first. He stands and then gestures Hector to join him. There is a side room hidden by a curtain, where a healing druid is on call to do just this procedure for those who need it.

She seems overworked, but at least this is only a finger.]

Wonderful.

[Hector follows, abandoning food and drink with nary a second thought. If he'd had a tail at this point in time, it would be wagging with excitement. It is only his delayed transformation that spares him that indignity.

He starts unwinding the bandage from his hand. The wound has been healing cleanly; Hector knows enough about necrotic flesh to avoid letting his own get to that state.

He holds out his (naked) hand to the druid without hesitation. ~~He learned nothing from the process that cost him his finger, it seems.~~]

So are those druidic runes? And the plant aspect, is that magical as well? Would you say this is more enchantment, or transmutation.

[Talk nerdy to him, overworked healing druid!]

[Ives is not particularly welcome in the side room, nor does he want to linger about it, so he leaves Hector there. The druid isn't particularly talkative, but when they do speak, it's in hushed tones. They don't really like to discuss how this all works, with Ives around to overhear. Such terribly good hearing, those herd animals have...

"If you use plant trimmings, the bottle will draw the remaining life from them. Replace them when they are wilted," the druid instructs, "Or, if you can maintain a living plant, it should self sustain. Do as you will."

So, yes, it is a sort of necromancy, drawing life from something else to use as the fuel source. The druid fits a bottle the correct sizing to match Hector's hand and other fingers, slipping it over his wound. They use their magic and it... grows his flesh into place, attaching the base of the glass. The knuckle bends of the finger itself are assembled into place, demonstrating to Hector how to pop sections off to drain, clean, and refill the glass appropriately. More green healing mist from the druid fills the glass once it is closed entirely, mixing with white rose petals the druid filled the inside of the prosthetic with.

"The glass will be unresponsive for a while but feeling will return within a few hours. It will be dull at first, so focus on moving it. You'll have full mobility range and sensation within days if you don't mentally reject it."]

[Ives has been been fully abandoned outside of the room. Hector listens with rapt attention to the druid, watching each move and already trying to calculate whether he'll be able to replicate any of this once he returns home and has his devil forging powers back at his disposal.]

I'll really be able to feel through this? Thank fuck, you don't know how much this bloody thing has been itching with no way for me to scratch at it because it's not actually there.

[He's euphoric at the prospect of not only a neat new magic toy, but also relief from the maddening phantom limb sensations.]

[The druid finishes their task and levels a warning with a tone distant in understand. Their tone is that of relaying gossip one couldn't remember the source of or exact details, but still felt the need to share.

"Might want to fit a glove over it, if you're going to the Above World," they sit to clean their instruments, waiting the next patient to be brought back in, "not sure how kindly other giants will look at you. They hate our kind of magic. Don't go losing it all over again."]

[Hector sighs.]

Well, that's nothing new. It seems everything interesting, somebody hates.

[Gloves above, gloves below... he'll figure it out later. He doesn't mind wearing gloves, though his preferred style runs toward asymmetrical hand-coverings, and his instinct would be to have this new ~~toy~~ prosthetic on display.]

You have my thanks, Druid. I don't suppose I could study more of your magic....?

[It's probably a no, but a man has to shoot his shots if he wants to learn interesting new forms of magic.]

["Absolutely not," hissed out, but judging from the scales on this druid's face, they are some manner of snake, "only humans can become druids. You don't have an inner flame to snuff out. Try it and die, giant."

That will really do it, seems that ran their patience completely out.]

[Hector pouts.]

You can’t blame a man for trying.

[~~They absolutely can.~~]

TEST DRIVE MEME (JAN 23')

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