forgottentales_ooc | Test Drive: April 2020

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Test Drive: April 2020

Test Drive: April 2020—

§ 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, or alter components to a slightly different scenario (ex, instead of fighting Erasers in a story setting, it could in the Index or different monsters within the Index)..
Don't forget to refer to the Game Info for how the mechanics work.
Public Registration will open May 3rd, but anyone with an invite and current players can register at any time. Claims will open April 26th.

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. Spring Has Sprung! It's spring in the Index, which means the city is decked out for more holidays! Sakura and other flowering trees scatter petals into the gentle breeze, streamers and banners in bright pastels hang from the lampposts and in shop windows, and best of all, specials on candy! However, some of this decoration magic is spreading all over. Some may suddenly find themselves with flower petals raining down upon them as if to give them a more "refreshing, romantic" effect, though sometimes instead of a gentle shower it's more like a raging storm (hopefully none of them are thorny roses). Buildings are suddenly made of chocolate or dyed random colors that glitter and sparkle in the sun, blinding those who walk past. Hopefully that chocolate doesn't melt. And some will find themselves sporting rabbit ears. They're "real" for about an hour before they turn into fake headbands, but fake or real, the ears can twitch and move.
2. Rabbits Can Multiply. Some people might stumble across a chocolate egg. It might be in your winnings if you participated in the egg hunt, on your kitchen counter, placed really obviously on the bench next to you after feeling someone tap your shoulder. In any case, the egg soon hatches into an adorable little chocolate bunny—that quickly starts to eat everything in sight and multiplies like, well, a proverbial rabbit. One rabbit chowing down someone's garden or restaurant inventory is easy to handle, but not five or more. The little menaces seem to distinctly avoid carrots, though. Maybe whacking them on the head with one or spraying them with carrot juice will get rid of them. You can use heat to melt them, but would you really want to scar the children like that?
3. Magic Jumping Jelly Beans. Special jelly beans are being handed out to everyone, children in particular. They come in all different flavors and colors and are quite tasty. The only problem is catching them all. When not contained in special, magical plastic eggs, the jelly beans will jump out and bounce around here and there and everywhere without any care. A handful is amusing, but when an entire box or cart full of them is accidentally knocked over and entire rooms or streets are filled with them...it's a problem. Traffic is blocked, eyes are at risk, and those little things can hurt when flying at high speeds. Whether it's grabbing and shoving them back into the eggs, smashing or burning them, or simply eating them, find a way to beat back the beans before they cause serious bodily harm or property damage.
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. Jack and the Beanstalk. The classic tale of a young boy who climbs up the magic beanstalk to discover the giant's castle. Aspects are requested to help restore this story and are given a few tasks to fulfill. First they must scale up the current, contaminated beanstalk to help clear out the Erasers and other monsters lurking. Then a few select souls must reenact key scenes so that the Storyteller can rewrite the story. Finally they must help chop down the beanstalk so that a newer one can be grown.

A. Up the Beanstalk. The beanstalk is a twisting rotting mess that leads up to dark, stormy clouds. But it is up this beanstalk they must climb and try to not only create a safer passage for those involved, but to keep it from falling down prematurely as it is the only way up to the giant's castle in the sky. There are several large leaves that look as if they could be safe platforms, but be wary—some are actually venus flytraps in disguise and will snap close if triggered. There are also numerous Erasers and hostile creatures in the form of varying insects. A few beans and pea pods hang off its sides and they can be used as 1) nourishment and remedies, 2) thrown to create safe platforms, 3) sticky explosives against hostile creatures.
B. Dealing with Giants. There are two many scenes to pick from. For each, characters will take on one of the two roles, but it's only in name and appearance only. How they act is all up to them. There is no script, just a basic guideline on the setup and potential goal, but how it happens and how they get there doesn't matter. They can be serious in their role or just go completely off script. Each one has a costume: Jack, (Princess) Harp, and the Giant. (Note: characters do retain their Aspect abilities as well as temporarily gain some from their scene roles.):
1. Jack and (Princess) Harp: Sneaking Past the Giant. It's a stealth co-op mission to get through an extreme obstacle course without waking the Blot giant. Think Ninja Warrior obstacles and traps. (Princess) Harp is transformed into an actual harp with their head and arms the only movable original part of the person. Fortunately they are small enough to be carried, but be careful to not let any of the string snap! Don't wake the giant or they will get Fee Fi Fo Stomped.
2. Jack and the Giant: Confrontation. Despite their best efforts, the giant is able to catch up to Jack and impede his escape. Jack must now find a way to get past the giant, and it's up to the one who plays the giant to determine the method. Will the giant be talked into letting Jack go peacefully? Perhaps if Jack traded the harp? Solve a few riddles? Jack uses his wiles to somehow distract and sneak past? Will it come to a fight? Or perhaps another method? (Note: Jack will have a toy harp as a prop.)
C. Chop the Beanstalk. Once everyone is down safely, it's time to chop this giant beanstalk before more threats come down. It's very thick, not to mention riddled with obstacles like peashooter-pods, pome-grenades filled with alarmingly red sticky juice, spiky, stinky durian bombs, and worst of all, the SQUASH! Some chainsaws are provided, but there are other ways to help weaken it via Essence abilities. Those who have affinity with plants can perhaps coax it to soften itself. Others could try cursing it to wilt, and there are of course the elements to use against it (fire is most effective). Watch out for the various critters that will drop down in attempt to defend it, as well as the beanstalk's other defenses.

¶ III. Request Board: Creature Handling. People aren't the only ones displaced due to the Story Eater's destruction. A variety of creatures from various fairy tales and stories have sought shelter within the Index, and have for the most part been contained away from the main city. However, not all creatures are friendly, and some do escape, whether on their own or by those with ill intentions. While it is preferred to keep every creature safe and alive, the safety of not only the people but also other creatures and the Index itself is paramount. Lethal force should only be used when absolutely necessary. Although some requests specify certain types of individuals best suited for the task, anyone with comparable skills or alternative methods can participate. With everyone needing to learn how to use their new Essence abilities, these offer a perfect opportunity to test them out.

REQUEST: TRACKERS, HUNTERS, ANYONE WHO CAN COMMUNE OR UNDERSTAND THE FORESTS. A herd of unicorns is missing and must be found immediately! Poachers are known to trap and cut their horns to be sold on the black market as well as smuggling them to other stories to be sold. This is highly illegal and harmful for the creature. Please find and return them before they are harmed! If you spot a poacher, you have permission to capture them and take them to law enforcement.
REQUEST: WARRIORS, MAGES, BEAST TAMERS, TRACKERS. A large cerberus was spotted roaming near some ranches set by the mountains. Normally they keep to themselves, but this one is a young male likely looking for new territory to claim and drawn to the livestock. No humans have been harmed, but we want to keep it that way. Partners and groups must have at least one person capable of tracking it down. We wish to drive away the cerberus rather than outright kill it, but it can be unpredictable. If it cannot be driven off or knocked unconscious, then permission is granted for its destruction. Be wary of its three heads—it is capable of harnessing the three main elements: fire, water, and wind.
REQUEST: BARDS, MUSICIANS, CHARMERS. Because of the recent incidents, many of the more timid creatures and farm animals are nervous and won't settle down. Many have wedged themselves in odd hiding places and just won't come out, while others ceaselessly stampede through the spring fields and trample the crops! Music will help calm them down, especially duets, and they are also fans of musical numbers. However if music isn't enough, perhaps a sleeping spell of some kind will do.

¶ 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

1. Arrival

[He should have read the fine print. Adachi doesn't look very pleased with his current predicament. It was (probably) better than getting caught by the pesky brats, but if he'd know the full deal he would have thought for a longer while.

Now he was dressed up in a long dress with a ridiculous cape and a crown. Obviously he was a queen, which was told to him outright. The Evil Queen, nonetheless. He wasn't really the fairy tale kind of guy, so he supposed he'd have to read a bit. How bothersome.

They even took away his gun. The bastards.

Adachi doesn't get very far on his quest towards the library, however, because he notices a mirror. And starts staring at himself, to check how he looks. And boy does he look handsome.]

Mirror mirror on the wall... who's the fairest of them all?

[It's more of a murmur. Unintentional, but eh. He can still smirk a little in a malicious manner.]

2. Essence training

[According to the story, the queen poisoned Snow White while disguised as an old hag. Then she died. Well, Adachi certainly wanted to avoid the latter part.

He ended up trying a bit of different things. Willing something to be poisoned? Not working (boooring). Willing himself to transform? Worked.

... but now he was old and ugly. Not so great.

Well, he decides to give it a test anyway.]

Excuse me... could you help me out?

[See how believably old he is? So old, so fragile. Please help. Oh no.]

3. Shopping

[After getting settled into his new house (a castle, the best part of this deal yet) he returns to town to do some shopping. More comfortable clothes, food, poison ingredients, cabbages. Anything a newly arrived Asset might need.

He's looking at the cabbages in particular with a thoughtful hmm.]

[Adachi must be feeling really daring today to be trying his luck on the hulking giant that is Hyde.] Eh? [He turns, one clawed hand holding onto one very frightened native by the head that was trying to escape.]

That depends on the help. [This guy, was really old, older than the old man! He'd probably turned to dust if he just tapped him.] Need to cross a street or something?

[He'll feel successful in his act of being an old guy if he can seem genuine to someone like this.

Though it's also because this guy seems interesting.]

Oh... I was more hoping for directions to the nearest store... I ran out of milk, you see.

Oh, is that all? [How boring. He lifts the guy he had been holding onto and starts shaking him, apparently trying to grab some loose change.]

You're pretty far off from the market old man, but if you keep going down this road and take a left at the second crossroads, you'll eventually get there.

Edited (I can't english today apparently) 2020-08-28 22:51 (UTC)

Is that so...

[A rather interesting thing you're doing there, Hyde. Not that the old man seems to care if you shake all the money and loot out of him.]

I do hope I'll make it there alright. It seems my sight is not what it used to...

Tch, is that all you got? This chump change ain't going to cover that tab, you know. [He presses the poor man against a wall, which caused cracks to form. It didn't look like he slammed that guy that hard though.]

Looks like it's the Ring for you, keke.

"No, wait, not that! I can pay! Just give me a few more days!"

You can pay through entertainment. [Is the detective going to approve of this? Probably not, but he's not here right now. This old guy was still here though.]

Can't you find someone else to help you there? I'm a little pre-occupied here...

[If Adachi was himself, he'd likely whistle at the display, but he's pretending to be ignorant of what is going on. This old man cares now what is going on, it would seem.]

Oh, I wouldn't want to bother you or anyone else... I'm sure I will get there eventually....

[As such, he starts walking into the wrong direction in a painfully slow manner.]

[Ah good. Here he thought that would be it with the old guy, until he sees him walking in the complete opposite direction.]

Oi, I said the other way. [....Man, should this guy even be walking?]

Oh..?

[He looks confused around him and then behind him.]

Sorry, sorry. I should really get my eyes checked...

You sure you should even be out here by yourself? [He lugs the dine and dasher over his shoulder. The guy can hit him all he wants, he's not getting out of Hyde's grip.]

You got anyone babysitting you, gramps?

Oh... all of my relatives have left to other places... I'm on my own now.

[He walks very slowly towards the right decision this time.]

[Huh. How convenient.] Well ain't that a shame.

[Without warning, he's going to grab the old man by the coat/cloak(?) and lift him up.]

[The old man yelps. He almost starts swearing, but holds it in.]

What are you doing?

[He sets his dine dasher back down and the puts Adachi onto his back.]

All right, here's your payment. You're going to carry this guy to the market and buy everything he needs.

[The man is absolutely flabberghasted by this.] Better hope you have some money then, huh. Oh, and I'm coming with, just to make sure you don't run off again.

Oh... there was no need for this... I am perfectly cable of walking, young man.

[Painfully slowly. Actually, it is rather impossible for Adachi to walk faster in this form which sucks.]

Yea, if you were planning to reach the market in a year. This is much more convenient and entertaining for me. Hehe. [He gives the guy a "gentle" nudge.] Move along then!

[Well. There's not much he can do here, unless he transforms. So he just chills there he guesses.]

I see... you are a rather resourceful man.

[ Like how Dojima would do a double take if he saw someone looking like Sou--Yu, the detective found himself doing the same for anyone that vaguely resembled someone from Inaba. ]

[ Yosuke Hanamura and Kou Ichijo had already shown up, so who could tell who else would? ]

[ ...Still, the mop of messy, ill-kept brown hair was a bit more 'normal' and easy to miss, plus the long dress made Dojima assume it was a young woman-- ]

[ Until he heard that voice. Just a murmur, only barely above the crowd, but it made Dojima's head turn sharply. ]

[ No.

No no no, the Story Teller couldn't be that stupid, right-- ]

[ Now, Adachi was safe behind bars back in Dojima's time. Hell, Dojima had actually managed to get Adachi to talk some, during a few of his visits.

But Adachi had promised do his time, to not try any more of this magic TV shit. So there were two options in seeing Adachi here. ]

[ 1. Adachi broke his promise to Dojima after Dojima had given him another chance (though this could possibly be due to the Story Teller messing with Adachi, it still pissed Dojima off)

or

2. This was Adachi from earlier in their timeline... before he was caught. Meaning Dojima didn't know what he was capable of in a place like this, with innocent people around-- ]

[ One moment, Adachi was staring at himself in the mirror, preening like a peacock.

The next, his head would be slamming INTO the mirror as Dojima sucker punched him from behind. ]

ADACHI--!!

[ Annnd quickly grabbing onto collar of his dress, jerking him around to start shaking him like a rag doll, glaring at him. If looks could kill-- ]

You son of a-- What the HELL are you doing here?!

[One moment it's just him and his beautiful reflection and the next moment he's interrupted by someone very familiar. Ouch, that hurts. That's gonna bruise. Fuck this.

Another thing he should have been warned about before accepting any deals: this. Judging from how healthily he's shaking him, Dojima probably isn't from the same point in time.

This certainly was troublesome.]

How delightful to see you too, Dojima-san. Did you really have to injure my face out of all things you could have chosen?

Considering all the shit you put me and my family through, you can deal with a goddamn bruise on your face.

[ Yeah, Dojima was definitely recovered... and wearing armor, with a noticeably ornate sword to his side. Maybe even a bit stronger than he was back in Inaba, for all the training he'd been doing with Rokurou, Eustace and the others. ]

What are you doing here, Adachi? When are you from?

[Clearly he's some sort of a knight, considering the armor and weapon. Great, Dojima got a weapon and what did he get? A freaking dress and a crown.]

I was made an offer and I was bored. What other reason is there? [He's not going to answer that second one.] Oh, but of course. You actually want to make the world a better place. My bad.

...

[ 'I was bored'. ]

[ He'd read that, in the transcription of Adachi's confession. Boredom. Big city boy sent to the sticks with nothing interesting happening. So he decided to make interesting things happen with that new power he somehow stumbled upon. ]

[ Interesting, murderous things. Two women dead, one copy cat crime victim dead. Multiple people kidnapped, hurt, scared, abused, and then, Nanako-- ]

[ For a moment, his grip on the other man's collar lessens, and though the anger is still obvious on his face, Adachi could also clearly see... disappointment, a deep sort of sadness and frustration on Dojima's face. The grip returned just as quickly, not risking letting the other man go. ]

[ This Adachi, judging by his reaction... he was probably before Souji and the rest caught him and dragged him back through the TV. Before he confessed. ]

...You're right, I do.

[ Not did. Do. Despite all your bullshit, Adachi, you didn't break him. He could at least tell himself that. ]

... What Essence did you get? Some kind of Royalty?

[It's pretty obvious he's still the villain and not the prisoner Dojima knows.

Adachi is very conflicted on the emotions on Dojima's face. The pain and the sadness. The disappointment. Mainly the disappointment.

Well, nothing he wants to do about it in the mindset he's still in.]

Good on you.

[It's a murmur. Maybe he's also relieved... that Dojima was still determined to help. That he didn't break him. Maybe he's disappointed about it.

He's not sure.]

I'm a Queen. The fairest of them all.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive: April 2020

Tohru Adachi | Persona 4: Golden | The Evil Queen

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