Test Drive Meme #7

[inthenightmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME #7

Hello and welcome to the In the Night test drive meme for November! Thanks for your interest in our game! Reserves open on December 20, and applications open on December 22.

While you're here...

• Take a look at our rules and faq pages to familiarize yourself with the game.
  
• Note that we have a reserve cap of 20, and a (current) application cap of 2 apps this month for new players, as the game has a player cap of 60. An accurate count of current players will always be available on the taken page.
  
• TDM threads can become game canon if both players wish. If the situation isn't something that could happen in-game, you're free to chalk it up to some strange hallucination, a shared dream, or other mysterious circumstance.
  
• Note that this is not limited to new characters threading with characters already in-game. If current players wish to thread out the TDM prompts as canon events, they are welcome to do so. They are welcome to make posts in the main comms for TDM events as well. Please note, however, that actual plot clues or happenings will not occur in TDM prompts.
  
• If you plan to apply, please keep in mind that we do require at least one sample thread on the application to be from our TDM (though it doesn't need to be the current TDM).
  
• You're welcome to use the provided prompts or come up with something on your own, but we do ask that all threads take place in our game's setting.

Thank you again, and we hope you'll choose to join us!

log prompts

MAGIC CASTLE IN THE LAND OF SWEETS

You wake up one morning to find that The Night Market has come to Beacon, rising from the depths of the lake to set up booths and stalls all around the square. As a market, they offer a variety of goods and services typically unavailable to the good people of Beacon. Lantern charms that grant special and boosted abilities? Check. Magical potions to imbue the imbiber with fun but temporary effects? Got 'em. Specialty goods from home? Can do. Cigarettes? You bet your buns. The only catch? It all comes at a price.

Accepted currencies at the Night Market include: Building and scrap materials, old tablets, old lanterns, captured forest spirits, torches, information, and most importantly... Plutonium. Of course, attempting to barter is always an option... but these currencies are your best bet for dealing with the various vendors offered by the Night Market.

And finally, if bartering isn't your speed, The Night Market has also brought with it a host of activities akin to a street festival. Warm up with a hot toddy or gourmet latte from the pop-up coffee booth, sample a treat from the candy shop, or win your bae a stuffed forest spirit or mechanical goldfish from the carnival games. Above all? Have fun!

This prompt is a mini version of the game's Pleader event.

BATTLE WITH THE (RAT) KING

Throughout the month, the residents of Beacon will discover that a familiar and not particularly wanted visitor has returned. Strangely, the creature appears to be incised by the holiday decorations that have been put up by those so inclined. It goes after any decoration it can, intent to rip them down, tear them, sometimes even run off in a tangle of garland. In particular, the Rat King goes into a frenzy any time it spies a nutcracker, and won't stop until it sinks its teeth into the wooden soldiers. It could be worse, you suppose. The thing doesn't seem to be paying mind to people unless they get in its way. Still, there are some residents that went to a lot of trouble to put this all together. Maybe you should help?

Or maybe you're scrooge and just want to watch the Rat King do its business. That's also fair. Just expect to get some coal in the secret santa exchange.

network prompts

MARCH OF THE TOY SOLDIERS

At some point while you were out and about, minding your own business, you find yourself in quite the troubling situation. All of a sudden, you're surrounded by what appears to be a small army of tin soldiers. The reality, of course, is that they're all somewhat small forest spirits that have decked themselves out in pieces of scrap that act as army-like uniforms, and not real toys at all...but still, the effect is unsettling. They're not all that threatening, really, aside from being creepy, but there are so many of them, and they hold sharpened, bite-sized spears that they keep trying to jab into you any time you try to move out of the circle they've made to sequester you.

Ultimately, you're able to more or less make out what they want: a ransom, of which they do not have the ability to properly communicate. They won't rest or let you go until you post of your plight on the network and give them what they want. You know, just, who knows what they actually want. That's still up for debate.

CHILDREN'S GALLOP

RINGLE DANGLE JINGLE JANGLE!

This is the nosie that greets you on an endless loop from the Bonfire Square. A small group of spirits have gathered there and set up what appears to be a donation pan, which they keep smacking and rattling as they provide all of Beacon with a rousing and unending set of holiday caroling. Unfortunately for everyone who isn't a spirit, this basically just sounds like coordinated screaming. And the screaming does not stop. Maybe for some of you, this would be easy enough to ignore in one capacity or the other, but it seems the spirits have accounted for this, and are very insistent on being given the attention their cheery efforts deserve.

Which is to say: throughout the day, everyone receives what is effectively spam emails to their tablet in the form of...very loudly written words. The emails pour in, over and over:

WE WON'T GO UNTIL WE GET SOME WE WON'T GO UNTIL WE GET SOME WE WON'T GO UNTIL WE GET SOME WE WON'T GO UNTIL WE GET SOME

QUICKNAV
comms	|	network • logs • memes • ooc
pages	|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Comments

[meridio]

[ He frowns at the title. She won't leave well enough alone, will she? Then he's not going to slow down, though he can always with whom be reasoned.

Of course, the Oracle of all people will advocate for the mute spirits. ]

Then what is it that they demand?

[luxoraculi]

[ Forgive her for being so formal, o Founder. It's how she was brought up, it's respectful.

She finally stops walking and reaches out to just grab his wrist, because she's done. ]

I don't know. Which is why I have asked you to please stop and listen.

[meridio]

[ It's not respectful when that isn't his title to claim. She's just doing what's comfortable for her.

Grouchy thoughts aside, he stops when she dares to grab him. Fine. He'll listen. ]

The network is replete with similar inquiries. What do you propose?

[luxoraculi]

[ Well excuuuuuuuse her, Princess. She's known you as the founder King her entire life. To the point where she even helped name some of the spirits SEMI AFTER YOU.

Whatever. At least he's trying. Sort of. ]

That we show these spirits some some sort of compassion, and that we stop long enough to make an attempt to listen.

[meridio]

[ Bet the princess regrets that.

And listen to what, silence? If she wants to get stabbed that badly, by all means. Maybe she'll surprise him; her house has a tendency to do that. ]

As Oracle, communication with beings like them is your gift. I will accompany you.

[luxoraculi]

[ Hardly.

Luna sighs and lets his wrist go, before she arches a brow at him. ]

That is very kind of you, though I'm afraid that my communication skills lie solely with the Six... but I will do my best. I do appreciate the fact that you are willing to come with me.

[ She's going to backtrack to that circle and just. Step in now, and crouch down. She puts her hand out, and she lets the soldiers jab at it a few times, but finally, at last, one steps into her palm.

It doesn't communicate with words, unfortunately, but it is making massive gestures that... take her a while. ]

...You want a hostage? [ WRONG ANSWER and she gets jabbed. ] A ransom?

[ That gets a positive reaction. They all begin nodding and jumping up and down. ]

...What... ransom? [ This question seems to puzzle them, and they tilt their heads. She glances over at Somnus... help? ]

[meridio]

[ Such sincerity. She's dedicated, but how far does that compassion go? Left unchecked, it'll ruin her. (Not that it much took to ruin him.)

Accompanying her to the circle, Somnus doesn't join Lunafreya inside. He stays outside to watch the negotiation unfold with folded arms and tension along his shoulders. Should the spirits act out of line, he intends to intervene on her behalf.

The look with which he greets her inquisitive glance is far from impressed. Well, so far, this has gotten them nowhere. What did that young girl's voice say about the other spirits? ]

Something that shines, perhaps.

[luxoraculi]

[ She's okay with the fact that he's decided to stay outside the circle. He's too tense and negotiations are already tense enough. The stakes are high.

Probably.

She glances back at the spirit that sits in her palm. ]

Yes, perhaps something shiny! What do you say, little one?

[ The spirit looks back at its comrades and then jumps down from her hand to wander over. It appears that they are all having some sort of discussion.

When it returns, it points at her and then makes a typing gesture. She pulls out her tablet. ]

This? You would have us put your demands out for everyone to know, then?

[ They nod. She looks back at Somnus. ]

Would you like to do the honors, then, or shall I?

[meridio]

[ He closes his eyes and cants his head to the side. From him, the gesture is equivalent to a shrug. It figures that the spirits would want for something polished in a dark place like this. ]

The honor is yours.

[ The credit for the message can go to her. The spirits are conversing with her, and it's not like the original suggestion was his. ]

[luxoraculi]

How kind of you.

[ She'll do what is asked of her, though, making a simple post of 'I think the spirits want shinies so please bring them something shiny if you wish for this madness to end'.

Once she sends the message, the 'soldiers' break their circle to instead line up and just. Stare at the duo. She stands up and heads back to join Somnus once more. ]

Well, now that our task at hand has been completed, do you know what comes next?

[meridio]

[ Bless her.

Somnus unfolds his arms as he stares down at the soldiers. He's watching, though his eyes flit toward Lunafreya for his reply. ]

Appease the spirits with what they demand?

[ They haven't left. They're just standing there. ]

[luxoraculi]

[ She'll take any blessings she can get at this point, dude.

She begins to walk, reaching out to take Somnus's arm and tug him along with her as she goes. ]

No. It is tea time, my dear friend.

[ And stand there they shall remain. She tugs Somnus away from the spirits who linger behind, very much intending on dragging him to the path that will lead to home. ]

Come, I am certain we will find a blend that you will find most suitable.

[meridio]

[ She tugs him along, and he marches to the beat of her drum. By now, he's realized that this is how she'll be: assertive and physical, yet personable in a way that would make anyone else appear insincere. For the lack of a better alternative, he follows.

Between the spirits and Lunafreya, he doesn't have to think twice about who'd make better company. ]

[luxoraculi]

[ Look, he's learning! To be fair, the fact that he willingly follows is a little bit amazing to her, considering how he is. But he follows, and she will take him to the abode they share with Ignis and Prompto.

Once they are home, she gently tugs him inside and shuts the door, and finally she grants him his freedom as she lets him go so that she can haphazardly toss her lantern onto the kitchen counter. ]

Make yourself comfortable, dear. Have you any preferences on your tea?