Test Drive: September 2019

[storyevents]

Test Drive: September 2019—

§ instructions.

Welcome to the Test Drive for Forgotten Tales! This is to help interested players test out their characters in the game's setting and see if the essence they have chosen will actually work in game play. There are a number of prompts that try to touch on the kinds of settings and scenarios the characters may encounter. So here are a few things to keep in mind while on the test drive:

• Feel free to use the current Workshop for help if you need it! Both the Workshop and the Test Drive are required for Registration.
  
  
• Participating on the Test Drive does not guarantee a spot on either Claims or Registration.
  
  
• Check the Character Roster and Essence List to see if your choices are not already taken.
  
  
• Include Character Name and Canon in the subject line, and note somewhere within the toplevel your character's essence. It can be in the subject line if you already know what it is (so ex; Character | Canon | Essence). Side note: You are free to try more than one essence if you're on the fence. Just make sure to note which one you're using for that particular prompt.
  
  
• Players are free to assume their characters have been informed of the very basics so you can skip all that if you'd like.
  
  
• Only the "In the Index" prompts of the Test Drive can be carried over in its entirety, but you can alter the story based ones as "stage play" settings within the Index if you wish to carry over that interaction as well.
  
  
• Don't forget to refer to the Game Info for how the mechanics work.
  
  
• Registration will open October 1. Claims will open September 24.

Most of all, have fun! Feel free to invite those you may think would be interested to participate in the test drive.

---

§ prompts.

¶ I. In the Index. When not out adventuring or playing character roles in stories, the Aspects will have some downtime within the Index, the central hub of the Realm of Stories. Here they can explore the city, read up on other stories, socialize with fellow would-be heroes, learn more about the essence, or even just do nothing at all. Any threads and CR made with "Index" prompts can be carried over into the game.

• A. Out in the City. Life in the Index can range from the mundane to the extraordinary depending on which area one travels to. Because it is a hodgepodge of many different stories from numerous cultures, one can never be sure what they may encounter even on an average run for groceries.
  
  
  
  1. Phantom Troll Booth. It's common knowledge that trolls enjoy their bridges and asking for unwary travelers (or in this case, average pedestrians) to pay some kind "toll" to pass over. Of course that's less of a necessity within the city itself, but there are some who like to prank people and others find bridges outside to continue their somewhat lucrative "business." There is one troll in particular, however, who has taken their "occupation" a bit far. Instead of paying to use a bridge, he offers a magical blue phone booth to instantly send a person to their desired destination. All for the "modest" fee of ten gold coins. However, instead of sending them to that location, everyone winds up in a random farmer's pig sty. Yeugh! Will a character be a victim or chase after this devious troll?
     
     
  2. Do You Know the Mutton Man? After a day or so, everyone will have heard of "Jerry the Mutton Man" and that reputation is not favorable. For whatever reason, this young hooligan is pitching out freshly made mutton and chucking it at random people on the streets while shouting, "MUTTON, FRESH MUTTON!!" before laughing and running away. It gets worse when other brats decide to join in the "Mutton" campaign. Someone better take care of this before some of the more "carnivorous" residents of the Index decide to take matters into their own hands (or paws). After all, what a waste of good mutton!
     
     
  3. Katamari Dagoosey. Old MacDonald’s golden goose has gotten loose, and while the bird is gorgeous to look, it IS a goose. And when golden geese are stressed out, they make EVERYTHING they bowl over stick to them. By the time it reaches the Index, the goose is surrounded by a story-tall conglomerate of unfortunate people, scenery, and even the odd cow. The only solution is to roll the ball through the town back to old MacDonald’s farm, where the land has an anti-sticking spell. Rolling and steering a ball THIS big, though, might be a two-person job.
  
  
• B. Essence Practice. Suddenly inheriting the abilities of another person while losing most of your own at the same time can be quite jarring. Picking a place to test out these newfound powers or even going to the Library to read up on the essence's story may help glean some clues as to what they can do.
  
  
• C. Try Out the Journal. The journals are unique to this world and the sole source of communication for everyone. Feel free to give it a try, either by sending a random message out or even a doodle.

¶ II. London Bridge is Falling Down. A classic nursery rhyme with rather dark roots, the Aspects will find themselves facing the bridge in a strange, chaotic state of constantly breaking apart and crumbling. Only the ends appear to remain stable, but that could change at any second.
There are no real roles here, so they are tasked with eliminating the Erasers trying to tear the bridge—and thus the rhyme itself—and stabilize the environment. Just mind the weather. For a lot of the time it will be raining, but there will be occasional patches of sun.

• A. Falling Down, Falling Down. There are numerous reasons for the bridge breaking apart, from the Erasers physically attacking it to the ground itself shaking from constant earthquakes to the pitch black water rising up to slam into the brittle stones. But what's even more pressing is the fact that there are people trying to cross through. Apparently the bridge is actually a functioning one and it's the only way the people who live within this rhyme can leave. While the knights of the Index are valiantly trying their best, many of these people need help trying to cross over and fending off the attacking Erasers.
  
  
• B. Build It Up with Iron Bars, Gold, and Silver. Although stone and wood is available, the key materials they need to use in rebuilding the bridge are iron, gold, and silver. There are plenty of iron bars scattered around to grab and try to fit into place, but the gold and silver have to be found underwater. As to how these all fit, there are workers on the scene who will do that for them, but for the most part they look like puzzle pieces with the bridge's original "outline" just barely visible. Find the place and stick it in.
  
  
• C. My Fair Lady. In the middle of it all, there are sightings of an eerie, ghostly woman dressed in white that appears at random spots of the bridge. From the distance she looks harmless and some believe her to a kind of faerie queen... But in reality, the "lady" is a fearsome wight and will attack all who come near. Those who use their abilities from their Essences will be able to do more damage than just plain weapons.

¶ III. Scene Snippets. The following prompts are various scenes styled similarly to those designed for the campaigns. Two characters are randomly assigned a role and must "act out" the scene. It can be assumed they are given the basics, but they are free to act however they wish. There is no real script or set direction, and they will have full access to their Essence abilities. Roles are not gender limited, so go wild. You are also free to create your own scenes or play within the general setting of the provided stories, even if they are not specified. Everything here is just a "guideline" and characters can act and behave however they would if dumped into the setting.

• A. Anansi Wins the World's Stories. The Aspects are dropped in the middle of a thick rainforest to help recreate one of the Storyteller's favorites: how Anansi the Spider—trickster hero of the Ashanti people—won the world's stories from the sky god Nyame. In order to do so, they have to recreate a few of the spiders' impossible tasks: one Aspect will play Anansi, while their partner will either double team with them to make the task a bit less impossible, or play as Anansi's hapless opponent.
  
  
  1. Rope a Dope. Anansi's first task is capturing the gigantic but vain Onini the Python. Anansi and Onini need to argue over whether the snake is shorter or longer than a fallen palm tree before Onini allows himself to be measured, giving Anansi an opportunity to tie him to the branch "to keep him straight." Hopefully the web shooters in Anansi's costume won't gum up... or accidentally tie up the wrong target...
     
     
  2. Cat's in the Cradle. Here the Aspects will team up as the spider god in order to catch Osebo the Leopard, who thanks to the Story Eater's doing has been transformed into a VERY large, VERY feral Blot monster. The tricksters will have to work fast to build a pit trap lined with spider silk netting for the beast… and someone MIGHT need to serve as bait… Once Osebo falls into the pit, however, all the Aspects need to do is volley insults at it in order to make it thrash and tangle itself even more. That webbing should hold just fine, right?
     
     
  3. Hey! Listen! Anansi's last opponent is very different from the rest. While Onini and Osebo rely on their physical might, Mmoatia the Fairy is small but armed with a hair trigger temper and the power to turn invisible. BUT instead of a weakness for yam paste and good manners, this Blot of Mmoatia is attracted to lost travelers, doing her best to "guide" them back to her lair with her dulcet voice. While one Aspect plays Anansi and tries to guide their partner through the jungle, the other one will play Anansi's "puppet" and do their best to follow Anansi and disobey Mmoatia enough that the fairy will get mad and dive at them. What the fairy DOESN'T know is that the puppet's costume will also include a nice, sticky layer of gum paste, and if all goes right the fairy will tar baby herself to the puppet. Careful, though, she has a pretty good right hook.
  
  
• B. Create Your Own! No need to limit to what we provide. If there's a particular story, scene, or even setting that you think would be fun, go for it! You can even use the story your character's essence is from. Other options are any of the scenes and settings from our previous campaigns and side stories.

¶ IV. Mix it up. This is the "wildcard" prompt. Feel free to take any of these prompts and make them more of your own, or pull from an entirely different story. As mentioned you're free to use any of our previous stories or other events. Just have fun with it!

Comments

[sofoskoritsi]

He should file a complaint with whoever gave it to him then.

[ Honestly the troll is looking at the pair of them as though he's willing to let them pass if they just stop talking already. Annabeth blinks as her boyfriend dashes over, not even complaining about the hug and even wrapping her arms around his shoulders in return.

There's no stopping the smile that forms on her face as she makes sure he isn't terribly injured. ]

I figured if I got an invite to save the storybook world, then you definitely did. There's no way I could leave you to do this on your own, Seaweed Brain.

[ Annabeth doesn't even sound exasperated by her boyfriend's tendency to get into trouble. ]

[natation]

Maybe he should.

[Percy isn't that fussed on the troll either way. It's up to the troll if he wants to complain after this. But still, he can't help savoring the moment with her. He is just really relieved to have her back with him again. Everything was easier together, and he always felt better having Annabeth around. Even before they started dating.]

I should have known you'd figure and follow.

[If anyone would. It would be her. And well, after Tartarus together, Percy is fairly sure this won't be nearly that difficult to manage, helping with these stories.]

[sofoskoritsi]

[ The troll practically fades into the background now, only a minor concern just in case it decides to get violent. It's true, ever since Percy first came to Camp they've done almost all of their quests together and there's no way Annabeth could leave him alone if he was recruited. ]

We're a team and we work better together. Where you go, I go.

[ Especially if it involves traveling into a storybook world. A hand comes up to brush through his hair gently. ]

So what Essence did you end up with?

[natation]

Of course!

[Even with Percy's first quest. They had been together from the start, almost. So it just made sense in them being together here too, in saving stories this time. Which may or may not be like a break from dealing with oracles and the gods back home, but still.

He finally pulls back from more mumbling into her shoulder, his smile falling slightly more at the question.]

Not one I heard of before. But I'm sure I'll figure it. Some fish prince or something.

[Percy was more used to the Greek myths and such, given Camp and their quests and all. That and he kind of had more pressing concerns initially more immediately upon arrival.]

[sofoskoritsi]

[ Three quests - that's how many they weren't together for. For two of those, Percy always came after her in the end anyway. She's not entirely sure how this is going to work but there's time for her to learn all about it.

Fish prince. Annabeth's expression goes thoughtful as if she could pull up all stories pertaining to fish princes but fails this time. One thing's for certain, it's not Greek or Roman. ]

We can look it up together, though it sounds similar enough that you should adjust quickly. As for me, I got Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. Not the cartoon version, one of the original tales.

[ Good thing his girlfriend is here to help him with his homework, huh. ]

[natation]

I assume there's a library around or something somewhere. There's always a library.

[And.....yeah, Percy is thinking of the Disney movie he probably grew up having seen. And, well. The 'beauty' part was right. At least in his opinion. Though he is obviously the most biased where Annabeth is concerned and always was. Given he takes any chance to crow on about her and how amazing she is and looks.]

Beauty, huh?

[He's at least vaguely aware there are many different versions of such fairytales.]

[sofoskoritsi]

The library is me. [ She pats at a second bag hanging from her shoulder. ] Apparently now I can magically pull whatever books I might need out of my bag. We'll find somewhere to go through the story later.

[ Annabeth a walking library? Dream come true for her. It doesn't quite replace Daedulus' laptop but she'll happily accept this replacement. But she knows her boyfriend well enough that his first thought would go to the cartoon. ]

Yes, Beauty. You can still call me Annabeth.

[ Playfully teasing him. If he wants to hear what her story is, Annabeth will read it to him. ]

[natation]

Wait, what? Really?

[He wasn't necessarily expecting that with the whole Beauty thing. But Belle in that Disney movie had loved to read? So it kind of made sense? He supposes. In any case that sounds perfect for Annabeth, given how often she has her nose in a book that he sometimes forgets she is also dyslexic like him.]

I guess that's the closest this place could figure to your laptop back home. But -- okay, okay. Annabeth still. Where were you thinking?

[To curl up and read. Because yes, he absolutely would curl up to listen to her read to him for however long. Which is to say probably until he fell asleep drooling on her shoulder, but still.]

[sofoskoritsi]

Yeah, in several versions of the story Beauty enjoys reading from the Beast's massive collection.

[ Which is where the cartoon version pulled it from in the first place. It's only one new thing she can do but is definitely the most fitting. She certainly doesn't like that her weapon is missing. Somehow Annabeth just keeps losing them. ]

I'll miss that laptop but this will have to do. It means I'm never without a book so long as I have this bag.

[ Now she pulls back to stand next to Percy, taking his hand in hers and gesturing over the bridge with the other. ]

There's a cafe over there where I was going to sit outside and do a little reading. [ Now the troll is making "Go Ahead, please" motions to them both. ]

[natation]

It's....yeah, very 'you'. I can see you enjoying the book thing.

[His hand easily finds hers, fitting in it as perfectly as it always had, when she pulls back and reaches for his. Percy gives a wry, possibly almost apologetic smile and gesture to the troll as he gives a nod to Annabeth's idea of the cafe.]

But the cafe sounds good.

[As long as there's a seat big or at least close enough that he can sit with her, Percy is game for it.]

[sofoskoritsi]

I'll have to see what else I can fit in there because it doesn't even feel as if there's a book in there.

[ Having him next to her is a calming balm to her previously aggitated state. She doesn't hesitate to stroll by the troll without giving him another lecture about proper bridge troll etiquette. ]

You can tell me what you've been up to so far. Hopefully not getting into too much trouble.

[ Percy could put his seat right next to hers and Annabeth wouldn't protest at all. ]

[natation]

It's like a magic bag! I don't get a magic bag.

[Because he can transform. Unlike back home. Or at least, here he can transform without being cursed or whatever, like the incident on that Island. And well, part of him can't help but to be both amused and grateful at how they both calmed each other down. Or in certain cases when she was in danger, really set Percy off. What with his loyalty to her giving potential for him to go too far if really pushed.

But still, he lets her lead the way to the cafe, ordering a hot chocolate and yes, he does shift his seat right next to her when they are seated.]

Do you really want to know? Because these stories are nothing like what we grew up hearing about, trust me.

[sofoskoritsi]

I'm sure you got a different set of magic powers.

[ Percy's always had the strong abilities, being able to manipulate water and understand a variety of sea creatures plus horses. Considering the name he gave her earlier, Annabeth suspects he has a few similar ones to that. There's no denying that they are both the soothing balm and the trigger.

She slides into a seat and orders a coffee, leaning into him when he scoots closer. ]

Of course I do. It'll help knowing the next time we're supposed to help fix one.

[natation]

I just need to figure it all out yet, exactly.

[His thing is the water. While he might have slightly different powers here, of course it is still somehow related to the ocean regardless. Still, he's content enough to wait for their drinks as he sits with her, a small lopsided smile at his lips as she leans in against him.]

I'm pretty sure there was no war because of the mermaid story. I think whatever we do can mess with it. Which could be good or.....not...