forgottentales_ooc | Test Drive: September 2019

Entry tags:

-tdm

Test Drive: September 2019

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I-B
If you aren’t good at something, you need to practice it. When you fail, you need to keep practicing. And when that doesn’t work...notes! And more practice. Fuuka had learned that with cooking. If she had learned how to be decent at cooking, surely she could learn how to...control the wind...right?

After finding a quiet place outside, she had spent the last hour trying to bring forth the wind. Waving her hands, calling out (rather nervous might hear her) for its aid, and even attempting a form of meditation. At most, it had tossled her hair and nearly flipped up her skirt. But otherwise...it felt very much like it was not listening to her. More like it was teasing her.

Letting a groan, she fell back onto the grass, staring up at the sky. A breeze swept over her and she sighed, “It doesn’t count if you aren’t going to do what I’m asking…Juno never acted like this…”

Thinking of her persona, a being she had considered like a dear friend, she felt some tears well up. Coming here, she had lost her connection to Juno and all the powers she had given her, in exchange for new powers and items she had no idea how to control. Quickly wiping her eyes, she sat up with a determined look.

“N-no use crying over what can’t be changed…! I’ll just have to go about this differently,” as she stood up, the wind swirled around her, and she laughed a bit. As her laughter trailed off, she glanced around; she was alone here, which is what she had wanted to practice. But when she had learned how to cook...she’d always had someone there. Someone helping her. Encouraging her. Wiping at her face again, she shook her head.

“I...I have to do that for myself now…”

II-C
Fuuka shook, hiding behind a large piece of stone that had fallen from the top of the bridge, wishing more then ever she still had her telepathic abilities to sense where people and creatures were. The woman--no, the ghost--had taken Fuuka by surprise when she ventured further onto the bridge. She had been hoping to get an idea of what the damage was; her hobby of building machines might actually be helpful here. Or so she thought.

Holding up a golden apple that served as a light in the storm, she had been greeted by the viage of a pale, ethereal woman mere feet from her. Before she could say anything, the woman had whipped towards her, revealing a monstrous face and a blood-curdling scream. Fuuka had ran, feeling claws at her back. How she had managed to hide behind this stone at all was a miracle.

With trembling hands, she scrambled to hide the glowing apple in her bag, putting a hand over her mouth to mask her labored breathing. Tears began to form, as she attempted to steel herself; she was no help to anyone if she hid like this. But what if she was caught? She was no help dead either. A strangled sob escaped her, just as the rubble she was hiding behind was shifted as someone--or something--moved over it.

‘I can’t be afraid anymore…!’

She thought, even as tears streamed down her face. As whatever came over the top of her hiding spot, she pushed her trembling hands up, a strong gust of wind coming from them, “G-GO AWAY..!!”

III-A3
“O-oh no...I am so...so lost…” Fuuka called out rather loudly as she pushed through the jungle’s underbrush. She had been given the role of Anansi’s puppet, and she had been very enthusiastic at the onset. But traveling in an itchy costume with sticky paper through a thick jungle waiting to get dive bombed by an angry fairy had tempered her excitement. It was great to be doing something good, but it was not quite what she had expected.

Still, she wouldn’t shirk her role! Even if she wished she could see where the person who was playing Anansi. At least then she wouldn’t feel so alone. A slight giggle from up in the treeline made her heart skip a beat.

“H-hello…?” she called out, searching the canopy.

Edited 2019-09-29 19:32 (UTC)

Hey, hey, Fuuka, are you o--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

[So he had seen out of the corner of his eye someone with teal hair dashing behind the rubble. And his best guess was it was Fuuka, since they had arrived together. He should have been keeping a better eye on her--

But, as he had climbed over the rubble to check on her, he hadn't been expecting a blast of intense wind, and well...

That sure was the side of the bridge he was crashing into! Yay!]

U-ugh...

"J...Junpei?!"

It took her a few seconds to register who had climbed over the rubble. Not the ghost, but Junpei. The one person she knew before coming here. And she had just...well, just yeeted him into the side of the bridge. Popping up over her hiding place, she didn't see the ghost woman, which was lucky. Then she quickly scrambled over to him, a new panic rising in her.

"J-Junpei I'm so s-sorry! I thought...well, I thought you were a ghost," she knelt beside him, anxiously touching his head and arms, looking for injuries. Looking around, she spotted his hat, and quickly grabbed it. Sighing a bit, she gently put it on his head, more tears coming to her eyes.

"I just wanted to help..."

I-I'm okay, really!

[Well, he was talking and didn't seem like he had head injuries; thank god, because he definitely needed those last two braincells of his.

His back was where the pain was, but he sat up anyway, giving Fuuka a sheepish smile.]

Did you see that creepy ghost some people have been talkin' about?... Sorry, I should've been keeping up with you... H-hey! Don't cry...

[He couldn't stand it when girls cried, quickly reaching a hand up to wipe her tears with his sleeve.]

Your wind power has gotten really strong now, at least?

She sniffled as he wiped away her tears, having to smile. He had become good at comforting her. He was gentle with her without making her feel weak. Shrugging some, she readjusted his hat.

"I guess so...it comes and goes. This was the first time I really needed it...so...that's a positive," she looked at him a minute, then asked, "Also...when did you get here? I...I had left you a note, but I didn't know you'd actually come."

So it'll help you when you really need it... That's a relief.

[He could worry a little less now, knowing she had a fail safe.]

Uh, a couple of minutes ago; I saw your note but I needed to find an actual weapon!

[See the sword that was off to the side? Typical broadsword, his usual taste other than katanas.]

Bein' a bear cub isn't exactly useful to fight Erasers...

Seeing the sword, she nodded, then looked back at him. "I don't know if it will hurt the ghost woman though...she seemed...well, fearsome. I wish I could just analyze her and tell you..."

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her feelings of despair away. Wallowing in self-pity wasn't going to help anyone. Least of all Junpei, who would spend his time trying to cheer her up. Smiling, she patted his arm.

"Well, maybe not yet, but you may have hidden talents as a cub! Besides...you're just so cute. It'd be a shame for you never to transform..."

...You really miss Juno, huh?

[That was something Junpei could relate to.]

You're not alone, you know... not having Trismegistus is really weird.

[Actually, it was more like terrifying, but she didn't need more reasons to worry about him...

His cheeks reddened... being called 'cute' by a girl was really nice, but it wasn't the right kind of 'cute', damnit!]

Y-you make me sound like I'm a teddie bear or Koromaru...

[...Ignore the bear ears popping up under his hat.]

She felt a lump in her throat as Junpei mentioned Juno, and then Trismgistus. Unable to respond, she just nodded, squeezing his arm. She was glad he was with her in this world. And that she was with him. It made going through all of this--losing a part of themselves and thrust into a new, dangerous world--more bearable.

She was also pleased to have the conversation turn towards something light hearted. Smiling, she glanced at his ears and resisted the urge to touch them, "Well...yes, but even Koromaru was a fierce warrior after he trained with us. Maybe...maybe that's what you need? Some training!"

[Yeah, having someone he knew here made things a lot easier, too. They could fumble around together, trying to figure it out instead of all on their own.]

Huh, I guess that's a good point... Not sure how training will help when I'm that tiny, but... Maybe?

[He rubbed his chin in thought, his white furred ears twitching.]

~~[...You know you wanna touch them, Fuuka...]~~

Fuuka made a noise of agreement, but her eyes were glued to the fuzzy ears. Okay, she really couldn't resist now. Not when they were twitching so much. Besides, she hadn't touched them before...she just had to know if they were as soft as they looked. Overcome with curiosity, she reached out and gently rubbed the ears.

"So...so soft..." she murmured, a smile spreading across her face. After a moment, she realized how invasive this probably was and went red, quickly pulling her hands away, "O-oh, s-sorry..! I don't know what came over me! They're just so..."

U--uh--

[Wait, wha? What was Fuuka doin--

...Annnnd then Junpei's face got bright red as she... touched his 'ears', or more or less the bear ears that liked to pop up on his head. It didn't last long, but it felt...

I-it didn't feel bad, so...]

H-haha, i-it's cool! I guess, they must look pretty tempting, like wanting... to scratch Koromaru's ears, right?

[With his Essence being The Little Mermaid, Roxas liked to travel around the Index using the river and lake, which was sometimes faster than traveling on foot. By doing this, he does occasionally spy people who linger near the lake, whether they be old friends or newcomers.]

[It was the crying that had caught his attention first. Roxas slowly poked his head above the water, his expression softening as he saw the girl. Definitely someone he hadn't seen before... was she struggling with her Essence?]

[He swam over, resting his elbows on the shore as he did, his tail flicking in the water.]

Are you okay?

Fuuka jumped with a squeak, wind bursting past the boy before settling to a breeze. She turned and saw him, feeling heat rise to her face. How long had he been there? Had he seen her crying? Wiping at her face, she smiled a bit lamely.

"O-oh! U-um...yes! Well...um..." she took a breath, trying to steady herself, "It's...it's been a...a weird day."

Venturing a bit closer, she noticed how he was in the water...and...was that a.. "...tail?" Blinking, she quickly covered her mouth, realizing she had said that out loud. "S-sorry...I...maybe I should be used to...um...magical people by now...but...um..." a tentative small appeared as she lowered her hand, her own worries temporarily forgotten, "...I've...I've never seen a mer...merperson before..."

Ah!

[Oh, he didn't mean to startle her. But he nodded in understanding.]

Yeah, I know how that's like. It can be weird, coming here for the first time.

[She must be new, especially given how unsure she seemed. He glanced down at his tail, before nodding, looking up at her with a friendly grin.]

It's okay. I'm not normally a merperson where I'm from. I was just on my way to town, and it's faster to take the river.

If you want, I could come out of the river.

She returned his smile, feeling more at ease. At least he was friendly! She had to force herself not to keep staring at his tail, wondering at how the anatomy worked. Then it suddenly dawned on her what he was asking, and a quick blush appeared on her cheeks

"U-um...won't you be...uummm...naked...?"

That was kind of weird thing to say, and she pushed her hands against her cheeks, feeling the heat coming off of them, feeling her stomach flop in embarrassment, "Ah, sorry, I'm...just remembering the movie...maybe?"

She needed to stop talking.

Edited 2019-10-01 19:46 (UTC)

[Oh noooo, her face is getting really red. Roxas starts, before shaking his head and holding up a hand.]

A-Actually, it's okay! I uh... I've been here a while, so I have some extra magic in me. When I transform, my clothes come back.

[It hadn't always been like that, but since finishing The Legend Of Princess Kaguya, it's become a lot easier transitioning between water and land.]

"O-oh..." That was a relief. And now she just felt embarrassed for assuming he would just come out of the water half naked. He wasn't some pervert. Sighing, she laughed a bit nervously, twisting her fingers together.

"That's good...it's also reassuring to know that...staying here awhile helps with our new powers..." Kneeling down, so she wasn't just talking down at him, she smiled a bit, "So, how long have you been here? I've only been here a few days..."

Yeah. It's a lot easier than before.

[Because he would have to either have clothes waiting for him, or change, and that sometimes got awkward.]

It does, yeah. The more stories you help, the more magic you get. I think it's a thank-you for helping fix all these worlds.

[Using his arms and pushing with his tail, he hauls himself out of the water so that he can sit down on the bank. Out of the water, she can see the entirety of his alternate form. He sits with his tail tucked up beneath him, in a way that he would if he had legs.]

Hmm... I've been here almost a year now. With a trip back home for a little while.

"That's a nice way to look at it," she smiled, and then watched with great interest as he pulled himself out of the water. His tail looked like a dolphin's, or a shark's. Very sleek and not scaly how she might have expected. She hugged her knees to her chest, preventing herself from reaching out to touch it. Why she was suddenly feeling so curious and impulsive, she didn't know. Maybe that was another magical side effect...

"You...you got to go back home?! How...how did you do that? And...and you still came back?"

Yeah, for a little bit. To be honest, I hadn't expected to be able to do so; I just really needed to go back home to fix something.

[Not getting into the whole having-to-stop-a-madman-from-destroying-the-multiverse just yet. He scratched at the back of his head.]

I feel kind of bad, though. I didn't realize what I was doing, so I ended up leaving without telling anyone and made a few people worried. If you have to go back home, make sure to tell someone.

She was listening to him, but her eyes kept going back to his tail. When there was a pause, her eyes snapped back to his face and nodded,

“O-oh...yes, that’d be a good idea...the only other person I know here is actually from my world...so hopefully if I went back he could go back too...”

She rested her chin on her knees, definitely not staring at his tail, “Um...do you have anyone from your world here too...?”

Yeah. It's a little weird, but if we help the Story Teller fix the broken Drafts, he can send us back home if we need to.

[Which made this whole thing a little less daunting. Still weird, but at least it's not a full-on isekai.]

Yeah, I know one person. He's... I guess he's kind of like my brother. [That's the easiest way to describe it, because he doesn't want to just drop the whole "he gave up his heart to save his friend and I sort of came into existence from that" thing on a newcomer when they're already processing everything else.]

I'm actually glad he showed up. He did something a little stupid in our world, so I finally got a chance to reem him out because of it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive: September 2019

Fuuka Yamagishi | Persona 3 Portable | Princess (East of the Wind & West of the Moon)

II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

Re: II-C YEET

I-B

Re: I-B

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject