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TDM: May
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aefenglom's test drive! All threads can be considered game canon, should you choose to do so; regardless of if you pick specific threads to remain canon to the game, the prompts and test drive itself will be. This will be touched on later in-game, so it's fairly important to note! Aside from that, here are some quick reminders:• Reserves Open Today! If you're interested in securing a spot, put one in! We accept applications without reserves too, of course. Reserves will expire three days before the end of the application period, on the 28th.With that taken care of...
• Applications Open The 24th! These will last until the end of the month, the 31st, with the intro log going on up June 1st. The application page can be found here.
• If you have any questions about the game or the world, please refer to the FAQ page; if you still have questions, feel free to ask them! For questions specific to the test drive, please ask them on the appropriate thread.
• For the purposes of the test drive, your character will have access to all magics taught by the Coven if they're a Witch, and as much of their shifted form as you'd like if they're a Monster. Feel free to play around and experiment with each!
• While current players won't be allowed to post top levels on the test drive itself, feel free to reference or play with the dreams in-game.
• Test drive threads can be used as samples for your applications!
You feel like you're floating. Around you, colors and sounds and smells swirl as if trapped in a whirlpool, vibrancy and hue ever shifting. The more you watch them, the less solid they are; they only become clear out of the corner of your eye. The area around you begins to feel more solid as well, until your feet are on the ground, the wind brushes playfully against your face -
and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.
The Eternal Fall
The smell of autumn leaves surrounds you, a myriad of colors sparkling into existence at the same time. Despite the warmth and light, the air feels heavy and stiff, as if on razor's edge. The forest is eerily silent - not a bird, bug, or rodent dares to stir - and when you do hear something, it's the high-pitched crying, whining, weeping, sobbing, howling sounds of something far off. The tunnel of bent branches invites you further with an unpleasant compulsion; though fighting it and turning around finds you in front of a chilly, damp cave alight with the faint, cool glow of bubbling fountains and streams.
 The Compulsion Unable to sway yourself from the call of the forest - or maybe you're simply curious as to where it leads - your feet pull you further and further into the autumnal tunnel. The cry from before grows more distant, but in return, the air weighs even heavier on your shoulders than before. The branches hang lower and lower as well, as if pushed by gravity, until their leaves smack your face, twigs offering small cuts from the thorns protruding from their bark. But you can't stop. Not now. The end of the tunnel seems so close; but it's seemed that way for a while now, you suppose, and you've already come this far - you might as well stay the course, wherever it might lead. The further you go, the brighter everything becomes, and you realize it's the leaves surrounding you; they've begun to glow, encouraged by the sunlight streaming in from above, and the wind begins to whisper in your ear. At first, it's only encouraging things, or silly facts - harmless words, but as the foliage begins to shimmer and reflect your image, the wind's words turn colder. Within those reflections on the autumn tunnel, you begin to see your worst moments - morally, ethically, emotionally. The things you don't want anyone else to know, that you'd feel ashamed or struck for anyone - especially those close to you - to see. The wind becomes louder as the scenes play out one right after another, boldly declaring your true feelings as they were in that moment, good or bad. Worst of all - you still can't bring yourself to turn back, even as your mind begins to free itself from the tunnel's compulsion. Maybe someone else can help out, if they're not too taken by their own memories, or maybe the shock of sharing such private secrets will jolt you and anyone else back to reality. Either way, it's that, or staying stuck watching your worst memories play on repeat for what feels like the rest of your life. |
 The Cry While not compelled by any means, you still feel a curious draw down the path in front of you; as you follow the leaf tunnel, with others or alone, you find another, less-traveled path. Following it reveals a large pond colored orange and gold by the reflection of the area it's in, sunlight and shadows playing on its surface. At a glance, it seems to be rather shallow, but that's hardly the truth. You realize, after a moment, that the crying has continued, evidently coming from the water. Looking closer, the culprit is an infected Merrow, who - upon begin seen - shrieks and dives for whoever's looking at it with the clear intent to drag them down beneath the water. Its claws are extra sharp, its teeth similar to a shark in number and shape, and its scales have turned a pale black; an oil-like substance flows from beneath them and from its gums as well, shimmering the same way gasoline does in the light, and its eyes are the tell-tale white of a Shade. It isn't impossible to fight it to get away, especially as some of you have new abilities at hand, and some of you have a few neat changes to help that along. Once distance is successfully put between you and the infected Merrow, it howls in a wet, warbly voice, visibly frustrated. Unlike ordinary Merrows, who can walk on land and have legs as long as they stay dry, this Merrow can't seem leave its pond at all, and electricity sparks from it like little static shocks in its irritation. It does dive back under once it realizes it can't reach you, resurfacing as your character's most important person in an attempt to lure them back. The expressions are far too real, too genuine; even those aware it's a Merrow might be fooled. While its voice isn't a perfect mimicry, the song it begins to sing has with it notes of yearning and beckoning to join it, join your beloved person, in the water. |
 The Cave Pulling yourself from curiosity or compulsion, the cave behind you - in front of you, if you've turned around - gives off an oddly pure feeling. Like an oasis in a desert, it feels refreshing and calm; incredibly safe, compared to the eerie call of the forest it's in. Within the cave are pools of water that glow and glimmer from the magic runes found around them. The runes shift similar to a mirage whenever you try to focus on them; and try as you might, you can't glimpse what they say exactly. It isn't so hard to figure out though, as the pools of water surrounded by them have a pleasingly cold temperature, while those without them are near scalding. A few of the latter have runes around them, but they're not glowing like the rest - feeding a little magic into them changes this immediately, and steam rises in a sudden blast as the water cools rapidly. The opposite can be done for the colder pools too - taking their magic somehow or ruining the runes will make them bubble and boil as they surge in temperature. But that isn't all the cave has to offer. Moving further inward, you get the feeling you're going down - beneath the ground and the enchanting forest. Eventually, the cave widens out to a massive underground lake, multiple waterfalls pouring into it; despite their number and size, the room is completely silent. All tunnels seem to lead to this one room, with a few of them looking more man-made than natural. Traversing other tunnels leads you into a maze that only ever brings you to the lake, or to the cave's entrance, no matter how many different paths you take. Something different happens eventually though; signs of life begin to appear, or at least signs that life once lived there. Leather pouches rotted by the dampness of the cave hang on sharp nails beaten into the cave walls, with boots in similar condition strewn here and there. Torn, soaking clothing lays in piles in the tunnels, and candles burnt down to their wick's end stand in shelves carved from the navy blue and black stone. There's broken toys and books too waterlogged to read, instruments with snapped strings or clogged holes, and - most peculiarly - smooth, round devices that heavily resemble large pocketwatches or hand mirrors. They refuse to turn on though, either due to age or due to the wetness of the air. |
Tony Stark | Marvel comics | witch
[Being drawn into places he's uncomfortable with is a normal enough occurrence for Tony. It's how he got there in the first place, so why not go along with the pull and explore deeper into the woods? But as he walks down the tunnel, further and further into the dark, he realizes he made a mistake. When the leaves light up around him it should be comforting. It even starts out friendly, which makes him think that maybe this is all getting better. Maybe it's not so bad after all.
And then the images the tunnel of plants reflect back at him turn darker. Meaner. Tony stops, unable to continue down the tunnel. Every direction he turns is a new scene of himself, shown in the glow of the leaves like a screen with the wind hissing accusations. He finds himself yelling at the pictures, not even sure why.]
You never listen! None of you ever- I don't know what you WANT!
[He's starting to hyperventilate, whirling in circles as he attempts to look away from the scenes only to find more waiting behind him, catching his eye.]
I should kill you. Slowly. You've never done anything good for anyone in your life. It'd be a service to everyone.
II. crying
[Finally, by accident, Tony finds the offshoot path that leads to the pond. It's a relief and he immediately takes off down it if just to get away from the leaf tunnel of terror. He's also drawn by the crying that seems to be getting worse. Maybe helping someone else will let him escape some of his own problems. That's the idea, anyway.
He's not expecting the Merrow and he isn't ready when it lunges at him. Before Tony can react, he's pulled into the pond and underwater, thrashing around desperately to get free. A lucky jab with his elbow loosens the infected Merrow's grip long enough for him to get his head above water, but that doesn't last. He gasps in a choked breath of air, trying to claw at nothing so he can stay at the surface.]
I need he-
[And he's under again.]
III. compacts
This is the worst dream I've ever had.
[Tony isn't talking to anyone in particular, but he does announce that decisively as he sits on the cave floor with a collection of broken devices around him. He's picking at one in particular, trying to pry it open with the edge of a thin stone he found. At least it's something he can work on.]
I can't really be dreaming. Or if I'm dreaming, this is someone else's dream. I want out.
[He keeps digging at the side of the device, trying to get at least one victory out of the day.]
Or at least a sandwich. I'm starving. Can you starve to death in a dream?
III
What's growing on the stones can be eaten, if you're that desperate for food.
[ At least, he assumed it could. Survival eating is something he was accustomed to -- gathering edible plants, getting water from chewing on tree roots. It's not fancy, but it means he'd live. ]
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You aren't going to try to drown me, are you?
[ He actually sounds conversational when he says that. Yes, the guy could probably just stab him or maybe bite him if the extra features are any indication, but Tony has his mind stuck on his last surprise experience. ]
Have you tried eating any of them? What if they turn into something else?
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[ There's no real emotion to his words, just apathy. He's got a real sparkling personality, this one. ]
And no, I haven't. I'm not hungry, so I don't need to eat them. I just know that if you're truly starving, you'll find food. Something tells me you're not starving.
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What if I am starving? You don't know how long it's been since I last ate. And it's a dream, right? This could all be poisonous and then we'll all starve.
[ He's totally being contrary. ]
Anyway, there's something wrong with this place.
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Then if it's a dream, it could be whatever you want. Imagine them to be something not poisonous, then eat them.
[ Congratulations, you got him to sound irritated! It's some sort of emotion, at least. It goes as quickly as it came, however. ]
There is. But we'll wake up and forget this, if this is a dream.
[ He's not really sure about that, but it's what he's choosing to believe. It doesn't matter to him either way, but waking up back at "home" is simply easier than adjusting to a new place. The path of least resistance is the one he favors. ]
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ii
Toothless's ear fins perk up as he hears it first, desperate splashing and a shout. There is an urgency in his narrowing eyes when he looks at Hiccup, and they take off running toward the lake, where- yes. That's definitely an arm breaking the surface in a struggle to find the air again.] Hang on!
[Someone needs help and that's all he knows in the moment. At the edge of the lake, Hiccup leads the charge, wading and then diving in, making a wide gesture with his hand at Toothless, who remains barely in the water. The moment he gets a clear shot, he fires at the Merrow, hot purple acetylene plasma that bubbles and hisses through the water. Hiccup goes for the back of Tony's shirt while it's distracted.]
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He emerges with a sputter of water and shallow coughing, half-paddling toward shore to escape the shade, but it's slow going.]
Get- get away from the water!
[Not quite so eloquent a thanks. He's worried Hiccup will just get dragged in with him.]
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Thankfully, Toothless is here to help, putting himself between them and the merrow shade, and swatting them handily back onto the bank with his tail. No time for your inability to escape on your own, dumb humans.
Coughing up water, dragging himself up from where he'd fallen flat on his back, Hiccup gives the dragon a thumbs up.] Nice save, bud! Ow.
[Toothless answers with a screeching roar, soft blue glow gathering between his eyes down his spine, mouth a violently bright violet, and he fires off another plasma blast toward the enemy.]
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It- it's some kind of fish guy. It tried to kill me.
[Look, he's still trying to understand what is going on. He's going to state the obvious a bit. Tony gets to his feet unsteadily, eye wide with disbelief.]
I heard crying and I thought it was in trouble.
[Looking from Hiccup to Toothless, Tony finally pieces together what happened and pulls himself together.]
We can't let it attack more people. I... think it's sick.
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III
I don't know, starving takes a long while...
[Papyrus could be speaking from experience, on first glance, being a mostly-humanoid skeleton. He looks around the collection of objects, and rubs at the gash in his right arm with a bit of a grimace.]
But I did get scratched earlier. And it feels really real, for a dream.
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Well, maybe it'll be a slow dream. I could slowly dream-starve to death.
[Yeah, no logic to be found there. He may be just a bit sour about the amount of magic he knows is involved with the place.]
What scratched you?
[Even when he's being grumpy, Tony does still worry about others. It may be a dream, but he looks up to see how bad the injury is anyway. Can he tell? He's not sure what a talking skeleton is supposed to look like. He still tries to see if the wound is bad.]
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Some monster in the lake. It looked like my brother, but... it wasn't him.
[Papyrus looks to the waterfall, his jaw shifting to the side a little and his cheekbones and eyesockets drooping enough to be a frown. At least he did find his brother later, he thinks, and made sure neither of them went for a lethal swim. There's always up-sides to be found, if he just looks for them. And with that, he forces a smile again.]
But, uh, who knows! Food washes down waterfalls sometimes.
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Sitting up straight, Tony gives the bones a hard look.]
Will those heal? Do you usually- I mean, I don't really know if you normally heal if you get hurt.
[Is hurt even the right word for it? Another question he has buzzing in his head now. The helpful tip does get a little smile out of him.]
I don't think that's how waterfalls work. But at least it could be worse.
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III
[ Entrapta is perched on a nearby rock. When did she get there? Who knows, honestly. She's watching Tony kind of curiously, her chin propped up on one gloved hand. She has a good deal less hair than in her icons.
She sighs. ]
You can't get those things open, though. I've tried, there's no seam anywhere, and you can't smash them, either. I don't know how they manufacture them.
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[Whining is absolutely just part of his general reaction to discomfort. The real interest he has is likely the same as Enrapta's: the devices. They have to be something close to what he knows, which sure beats trying to mess with magical runes to heat and cool water, and Tony refuses to be defeated by a metal casing.]
Maybe they have some kind of energy shielding that protects them from impacts.
[Or, you know, magic. But don't say that.]
There are a lot of them. I wonder who used to live here. Humans?
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[ Then, brightly: ] I have no idea where we are, though!
iii
I don’t think complaining about it is going to get us anywhere. What have you got over there? I’ve got… magic temperature-changing pools. [Yeah that sounds as weird to say as it is to hear. He straightens up and starts to cross the cave again, sharp eyes searching for clues as to where they are or how they might be able to get out of here.]
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It won't turn on and I haven't found a way to open it yet. But it does open. Guaranteed. If I can figure out what was used to power it I can find a way to get it running again.
[Whatever it is. Tony doesn't actually know what the device is supposed to do, but he's keeping it to find out.]
So this is some cave bathhouse? I think I'll skip the water if it's all the same to everyone.
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You an' me both. [Definitely not going to trust the waters down here.] So what's our next move? Can't find the way out, can't get that weird pocket watch to turn on, and if I'm bein' honest, it looks like whoever used to live here left in a real hurry.
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There must be some reason we were brought here.
[He looks around at the silent waterfalls and the pools surrounded by runes and to the abandoned clothes.]
Someone wants us to see this. Have you tried going down the other paths? It's pulling us back like a magnet.
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ii
Can you swim?
[ Percy calls it out sharply, concern tightening his already posh-sounding accent, but his attention never wavers from the rifle's sights. Who knows if that thing might pop up again. ]
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Yeah!
[That is the only word he manages to gasp out, but at least he starts making good on it, swimming hard toward shore as the merrow recovers and comes for him again. Fleeing an aquatic predator is much easier when you have armor to protect you.]
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So instead he stays where he is, deftly reloading the gun to fire again as he sees movement in the water. It's harder to hit, with the surface distortion, but as long as he can distract the thing enough for it's prey to reach the shore, Percy will call that a job well done.
His left hand flexes a little, his eyes darting briefly towards the gauntlet on his hand before he goes right back to the gunsights. That's also an option. But only when the man is clear, unless things go very, very south. ]
Nearly there.
[ Not the most useful thing in the world, perhaps, but it does seem like some sort of encouragement might be appropriate. ]
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Better play nice. He concentrates on swimming instead of bickering. But as he seems to get closer to shore, the merrow rushes up from the depths, quick as a shark, snatching at him from below. Tony panics and silently screams, something briefly surging around him as he thinks that this is it. There's a small, desperate spell that turns the water around him hot, briefly surprising the shade if not actually hurting it. At least it buys him a second as the merrow lingers at the surface as it chases him inland. ]
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