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Welcome to the Test Drive Meme for

escordvi! Anyone can participate in the test drive, regardless of invite eligibility. Just keep in mind that only those who have received approved invitations from the mods and players can actually reserve on December 25th and apply on January 1st. Our EMP/ATP can be found here.

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice | TDM (IF TDMING). Current players can use the same header, just without the "TDM" label. We do require those who are TDMin'g to include the label so other players can distinguish between others.

For everyone's convenience, TDM threads can be carried over in game if you wish! If you are still unsure which armada to place your character, you can play it a bit loose and vague in the TDM and make retroactive changes if you carry over the threads. The log itself is set to cover starting from December 13th until the end of the month. Characters will appear at random intervals during this time rather than all at once, so players have some more flexibility on how much more adjusted they are for someone else.

If you have any question about the TDM, comment here. If you have questions about the game in general, please comment to the Game Info.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated December 23)

GETTING STARTED

This section can be timed for any time after December 13 until the end of the month, which includes during the current event. These prompts are to benefit those TDMing, but this portion can be handwaved instead and be served as a reference for players to know what their character will have experienced and learned on arrival.

STARTER SHIPS

There are two ships that serve as starting ships for each armada: Stormbringer for the Corsairs, and Royal Fortune for the Paladins. There are various ways new arrivals—or riftfarers as they will be called, among other creative names—will appear on or by these ships.

🚪 Random room. It could be empty, filled with crates or supplies; down in the hull where the livestock are kept; have the luck to awaken in a bed...or the misfortune of that bed already occupied; somewhere in the kitchens; in the bathroom—any room! Now let's hope the doors can open or someone may have to try and ask for help. Or jump through the porthole if there is one and it's above water.
⛵ On deck. If not in the ship itself, another possible spot to wake up to is somewhere on the maindeck. If they're lucky, they're on the deck itself. More unfortunate souls may find themselves caught in the sails or netting, the crow's nest, or on the top of the masts. Someone should be able to help, right? Or catch.
🌊 In the water. The most unlucky sods will find themselves appearing in mid-air just past the ship and plummeting straight into the water. Good news, there's always someone on the look out for such a thing and calls for help to throw a lifesaver get the rowboat will be made. Are there sharks? Well... ...Are there?

However the new riftfarers arrive, they will be poorly clothed, practically rags or loose uniforms depending on the ship. Fortunately, veteran crewmates will guide them, escorting them to a room with a strange typewriter in it. After typing their name, the typewriter will magically continue and type by itself at a fast pace until it dings and rolls out the paper. This paper will have the following information:

• Name and Shellphone ID (journalname)
• Armada (Corsair or Paladin, will match the starter ship)
• Cabin Number for their personal cabin on the starter ship
• Apartment Address for their personal address at their base armada location
• A basic map of the starting locations in Eltrut, including written directions (continued in the Eltrut section)
• A basic map of where they can find a chest with their original clothes and belongings (this will be different for every person and will be anywhere either on the starter ship or on Eltrut—players can be creative here).

After that, the crewmate will do their best to explain the basics of how they got here, what's going on, and what they'll need to do to live in Escordvi while they are here, giving them a small leather pouch with money. They will be reaching Eltrut soon, so the crewmate will suggest they look around, meet the others who have arrived. Even from their distance, they will be able to see the giant sea turtle that serves as Eltrut's leviathan.

ON ELTRUT

Once in Eltrut, the new riftfarers will be greeted by several birdfolk who will be happy to give tours to those who may need them. Otherwise, anyone is free to roam as they please and will have a map for the following main places they should visit.

🐚 Microshell. The first stop that is encouraged will be Microshell, the main store to acquire their own personal Shellphone. The paper they received on their starter ship will have their ID and the staff at the store will set them up, explaining how the device and the network works.
✒️ Inkwave, Tattoo Parlor. The next stop is Inkwave, a tattoo parlor run by a very burly but friendly octopus, Knistej. Here everyone receives their own unique magic tattoo, allowing anyone to cast specific single element spells and other magic. Note: tattoos are required before anyone will be able to use their original magical abilities.
📜 MANTA office. The final stop is the MANTA office, where all the request, mission, and task notices are posted. Each armada has their own branch office for armada specific notices as well. A great place to find jobs to earn some cash so they don't stay a hobo forever.

WINTERSTIDE

As December continues on and, in some places, the cool air of winter starts to blow through, many are preparing for Winterstide, a time where the islands practice an array of tradition depending on where they live. And to help herald its coming, The Frostsinger soars through the skies on her sleighship pulled by jackalope and singing a song. Wherever she passes, even the grumpiest of grumps will feel a bit more cheerful—if for just a few minutes.

As part of her gift, since the leviathans are situated in warmer waters, all leviathans will have large sections of snow deposited in a designated area, along with special winter clouds to keep it falling throughout the month. It's enough to create small ice rinks, build snowmen, and just enjoy the experience of having snow in an otherwise relatively warm location. Some innovators have also tried to create snow machines to spread the snow around town…but there are a number that will malfunction and either produce wet sludge or dump way too much snow in a small place.

But even so, everyone is enjoying the season, and local traditions are going in full swing. While each leviathan has their own unique traditions, there are a few that are shared between them all.

🦇 Mistletoe Bats. While there may be some sprigs of holly hanging around doorways, there is a special species of bats with wings of mistletoe leaves and cute little red heads. They will fly around and bite people, making the bitten want to either kiss or fight others. How severe the effect is up to the player. Some might want to "kiss" to the cheek (either by mouth or fist) or some might want a full "passionate" session.

🎁 Gift Giving. Although the Frostsinger will deliver gifts herself later in the month, anyone can give a special gift to friends and loved ones at any time. The Corsairs in particular will be on a "mission" to try and regift items from obnoxious nobles to those more fitting or in need of it (or pocket it for themselves—it counts). The Paladins will be on charity work, making and crafting toys and needed goods to hand out to those less fortunate.

🍭 Candy Cane Dare. A special challenge targeted towards couples, but can be played by anyone. Each person takes one side of the candy cane and starts biting off a piece each turn. Will they meet in the middle? Or will someone break away before?

🎀 Ribbon Dance. Little birds will randomly attach a colored ribbon to an individual and should they decide to participate, they must find a partner with the same colored ribbon. Multiple individuals will be in a color "group" so there will be more than one option. Once partnered off, they must bind their wrists with the matching colored ribbon and dance together until the ribbon falls off. For those who may be shy, the magic ribbon may just choose the partners for them.

🏖️ "Sandmen." Although the Frostsinger provided some snow, most will take to the sandy beaches and make their own snowmen and sculptures—with sand. Who can make the biggest one?

🥘 Food Contests. Both Nogard and Elah have their own version of food competitions, and are both vastly different. In Nogard, participants can only use the meat they hunt and gather their own ingredients, and are tasked to create the wildest dish possible. In Elah, ingredients are provided, but their dish must have impeccable and elegant presentation.

🦢 Boat Parade Competitions. There are numerous boat competitions held throughout the month, as well as the opportunity to parade one's boat with all the decorations fitting for Winterstide. Some will go all out, with decorative lights, ornaments, and streamers. Others will try to build a boat themed specifically Winterstide. Whether they are seaworthy or not, eeeh.

In Nogard, one particular fun tradition they like to do is to cover a large number of buildings with snow and race over them, carrying a bag of "gifts" and using their skills to avoid obstacles in the way. Participants can try to intervene and even steal the bag, and those who succeed can keep the goods inside (mostly low quality gems, basic equipment accessories, discount coupons, and doubloons, but hey free stuff is still good stuff). Scrimshaw is another tradition that, while done throughout the year, becomes more popular during Winterstide as there is an abundance of bone and makes for good gifts for anyone. Some even hold contests to show off their skills, and there are several whale bones standing by the ports where anyone is encouraged to carve their own design as part of a larger mural.

As for Elah, they have paragliding kites, where one is challenged to not only craft their own paraglider kite, but then fly it over the air streams produced by Elah. A successful flight will reward them with a nice pocket of doubloons. Another tradition they enjoy is to gather in the center of the Plaza Fontea where the water fountains will be dyed various colors that can be used to paint murals and canvases all over. It's a wonderful way for anyone to express themselves and perhaps even create a special gift.

Finally, all leviathans receive special offerings provided by the locals, usually various foods or random trinkets that can serve as decoration for the temples designated for each one. In Eltrut, one simply has to sail around its shell to a special pier and follow the mossy ridge up to a carved in ridge where the building is to leave the goods. In Elah, a ride on the sky gondolas which will carry visitors directly to the temple where caretakers will collect offerings. In Nogard, a more arduous task of entering through a guarded and sealed door and traversing through the leviathan's cavernous underbelly must be taken, walking all the way to the temple in its gut to deposit the goods.

YOTELSIA: TOY ISLAND

[note: all threads featuring Yotelsia prompts are worth 4pts due its special quest-like nature.]

Midway through the month, reports are coming in of lost contact with various ships that have sailed out to Yotelsia and have yet to return. This is an island known to belong to the Frostsinger, and every year during Winterstide she allows access for those to "harvest" toys and materials for the increased sales. The Frostsinger herself is too busy to investigate, so she makes a formal missive requesting those willing to investigate.

Those who venture out and near the island will notice the changes almost immediately. The once fluid water becomes choppier…and blocky to the point where most ships must either use equipment similar to ice breakers to get through, or stop completely before risking damage from the strange green and blue blocks that now float and fill the waters surrounding the island.

🌉 Building blocks. The blocks are large enough to carefully hop and cross over, even able to connect the blocks to form pathways and bridges to get to the shore. Some might even try to make rafts out of them to float through the gaps.

🚢 Empty ships. Previous ships can be found anchored…and mysteriously empty. Investigating the ships will find no traces of the crew. Only random toys littering the deck. Wait—did one just move?

📦 Toy collection. Those who do not want to venture further can start collecting the toys on the ship or try to figure out what happened to the crew. Later, once the curse is revealed, those unaffected by it may try to gather the curse stricken sailors to put them in a safer place.

As they near the shore, they will see lots of random toys scattered across the beach, as if dropped without a care. However, something seems to be…hopping? A plush rabbit?

"No!!" a squeaky voice tries to shout out, frantically waving its small arms as the words barely carry over the wind and the sound of blocks bumping against each other. "Go back!! The curse—!!"

At that precise moment, the sound of a xylophone rings through the air, and whether people made it to the shore or are still on the blocks, they will find themselves surrounded in a strange mist. And in the next moment…

They have taken the form of a toy.

With some despair, the rabbit plush will reveal himself to be the captain of one of the most recent merchant ships to have arrived. He explains there is a curse on the island, changing everyone into living toys but only for a limited time—two hours. The rest of his crew and some others are scattered across the island trying to find a way to reverse the curse, but the grim consequences of what would happen if they don't can be found by the motionless toys gathered on the beach. Living or dead, they don't know, but everyone has stiffened up to become completely inanimate, colors completely dulled, and with only sometimes a twitch here and there. But even as he feels his own body starting to stiffen, Captain Rabbit (Robert) has been trying to gather those unfortunate enough to be trapped to try and keep them relatively safe.

"There's a rat in there, we've seen him. Used that damn xylophone on us and hid somewhere in that tower. Find him and break this curse before it's too late!"

The island itself is made completely out of "toy materials"—fabrics, felt, wood, metal, cotton. There is nothing "living" here, including the plants. Felt trees, plastic bushes, popsicle stick cliffs, building block hills. It's a mishmash of everything with no rhyme or reason. And usually there is nothing living here, just plain toys. But the curse has "breathed some life" into everything.

🕷️ Hostile island natives. There are "animals" and "monsters" that could harm them (but not kill), so beware. That plastic spider with the silly string webbing will happily wrap anyone caught in their web, even if they won't actually eat anyone. Or that plastic tiger might want to pounce, though lack of actual claws and teeth won't do much more than rip a few seams or leave scratches. Good news is, a nice whack will stun them or even fall apart.

🛹 Getting around. It's going to take a while to trek through the island on foot. Not only that, but all abilities and magic are reduced in effect, even modified to fit whatever toy form they have taken. Perhaps those who are more creative can try and build a vehicle from the materials around. Or tame a toy animal to get around. There are even race tracks that could help speed things up. Assuming one can stay on it.

🐇 Free the Jackalopes. The Frostsinger's trusty jackalopes had tried to investigate the situation but were caught and trapped in various places across the island. Find and rescue them!

🧸 Rescue fallen dolls. Captain Rabbit (Robert) has asked those going through the island to find others who have already succumbed to the curse and bring them to the shore. They can be recognized by being the only toy on this island not moving and will have a grayish tint to their color. Some may twitch a little, but not often.

The tower itself is instantly recognizable, standing tall in the center made of giant wooden blocks and with a giant clock face whose eyes seems to roam around, as if watching everything happening. Once inside, everyone will need to climb up and try to find the one who made this curse—the Pirat King.

The tower is fairly straightforward, with several floors that is only accessible by various flights of spiraling stairs and "magic lifts." Pass through the challenges and mazes—or even face the Pirat King or his minions as they appear at random throughout the tower.

🎹 Musical Ascension. There are various "musical" challenges scattered throughout the tower. From floors and steps made out of piano keys that need to play the correct highlighted pattern tune, to playing with a ~~Bop-It~~ "Dance-It" toy and follow the pattern, to using a karaoke machine, to picking up a toy instrument and free styling—some paths or doors won't appear or open until that correct tune is played.

🃏 Card Games. Some floors will have varying card games that must be played. While some are simple as sitting at a table and playing poker or Old Maid, some are more complicated, such as the memory games where one must step on tile sized cards on the floor to clear them away. There is even a floor where one must ride giant playing cards like carpets to cross a giant chasm.

♟️ Chess Match. One floor is a giant chess board, and those on it are assigned a piece. Rather than playing the game properly, they just have to try and get across the board while limited to their piece's movements (pawns can only move forward one space or diagonal if taking an enemy, knights have the L jumps, bishops diagonal, etc.). Just be careful of the other pieces—they will try to knock them out. The spaces will also flash and will disappear, making those not fast enough to move to fall back to a random lower floor.

Every so often, mechanical toy rats in pirate outfits will appear to try and fight or capture those trying to ascend the tower. Fortunately, they only wield toothpicks and plastic weapons, but they can still hurt! If caught, they will be taken to the lower dungeons where others who tried to get through lay listless, the curse already taken them. Those who try to break out can also try and rescue those caught, or leave them behind. Corsairs may try to negotiate or even work with the Pirats, but results will be a roll of the dice (literally, a small d20 dice will appear and roll how well they do before disappearing).

As for the Pirat King himself, he will try and harass and accelerate the curse on those he encounters in the tower. The key to his powers is the magic xylophone he carries strapped to his chest, which will not only momentarily "freeze" any who hear it, but can also make them dance for a short time. Damaging the xylophone will reduce the curse's effects and will free at least one person who had succumbed to the curse completely. However, that Pirat King is a slippery bastard and will disappear in a puff of smoke after taking a few hits. It'll take a concerted effort and everyone taking shots when they can. At the very least, breaking the xylophone completely will release the curse and fix everything.

QUESTS

The current MANTA Board is available, but we have a couple of additional quests that are specific for the event! Teaming up is of course encouraged, no matter what the affiliation. You can assume they acquired some kind of ship for the quests out at sea, either the starter ship or some other ship heading out there. All quests will be worth 4 points.

Frosty Finesse

Eltrut

A large pad of ice has appeared in the center of Eltrut. No one is sure where this pad of ice came from, but a new challenge has appeared to see who can traverse across it the fastest. Using all manners of skills or magic, whoever can get to the other side without crashing might just get a nice reward. Race your comrades, challenge someone from the opposite armada, or just enjoy a leisurely skate across the pretty glossy ice. If you can make it across the fastest you will be rewarded with a scarf and pair of mittens that always stay toasty warm even in the coldest of nights.

Mischievous Minis

Everywhere

Tiny creatures have appeared and have been annoying the locals, always wisping around their heads while trying to get them to do something. There has been a demand for travelers to get rid of these pesky and nosy things before someone loses their patience. The tiny creatures themselves seem to be trying to whisper something in people’s ears. Maybe if you listen you’ll hear something good. But maybe they’ll tell others your deepest desires. All anyone knows is that they’re known to lie. Get rid of them by capturing them with nets, shooing them away with your hand or … burning them with fire. You do you.

An Order for Jadis

Atnam

A local bakery is requesting help in creating a large batch of turkish delight as fast as possible for a client who claims that she is a witch. So long as you can lift heavy bags of sugar or work with your hands, you’re more than welcome to help. Team up with someone to get as many batches of this sweet delight made as possible and as fast as possible. Just beware that making turkish delight can be a little messy. The sweet dessert is sticky and goopy. It requires boiling, mixing, cooling and shaping. So it won’t be an easy task!

An Eggstraordinary Harvest

Eltrut

A ranch has reported that they have miraculously found a massive batch of golden chicken eggs in their chicken coops. They say this isn’t normal so they are requesting others to come and investigate these special eggs. The eggs themselves do seem to glow a pretty golden colour and are solid and warm to the touch. But are they really gold? Investigate the golden eggs and find out if they are actually made of gold or if they are normal edible eggs. What makes them golden? Why are they glowing? Are they poisonous? Taste pretty good? Can they be sold for crazy amounts of dubloons? The results will be up to you to find out.

(Note: The outcome of the eggs is up to you. Choose what would be best for your scenario.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Daqiang can do little to help directly. His own body is flat, locked in a single position, and held tightly between planes of strange crystal. He cannot even blink! ~~but he is a rather adorable keychain charm~~. What he can do is fly about - only a few inches higher than the ground - and shoot tiny blue fireballs shaped like hearts! ...from the heart his hands have been shaped into.

They don't do a lot of damage, but they were enough, perhaps, to set Rem off kilter when one hit her raised foot and exploded in a shower of even smaller and sparkler blue hearts.]

[ Rem, who had been stuck in a series of pirouettes as guided by his royal majesty the Pirat King, suddenly tumbles forward onto the dais. So much for the grace of a (toy) ballerina.

The master of this toy island comes to a halt as the dance is unceremoniously interrupted by her fall, only to let out a furious cry. The rat stomps his feet, yelling something unintelligible as he raises his grubby, clawed hand to strike at the xylophone once more. Rem finds herself winding back up into first, then fifth position beside the king.

She should probably be more distressed at being controlled, but. She's not, especially when she sees just who had been the cause of her fall. Because isn't that just the most adorable thing. ] ...Moon Supreme... Is that you?

[Daqiang's mouth could not move. Fortunately, his ability to communicate with other beings who had a significant spiritual presence meant that even if he couldn't talk, he could still be understood. However strangely it probably felt to others aside.

So while he did not speak, there was definitely a sense of frustration accompanied by a single thought directed her way:]

Yes.

[And then another round of blue heart fire was sent towards her and the Pirat King. First to knock her feet out from under her and the second at the xylophone.

The keys struck created a discordant sound, followed by a slightly more chaotic set of chimes because of the explosion of tiny hearts. It was enough that if his attack on Rem did not free her from her dance, the broken music would.]

[ It certainly does free her, and this time, she... she doesn't fall, but ~gracefully~ leaps, spins, and ends up posing dramatically for the finish. A second later, she lowers her arms, blinking in surprise. Wow, she didn't know she could do that. Neat! Maybe being a toy isn't all that bad.

The rat king, meanwhile, throws another tantrum, hissing and spitting. While clenching his fist at Dongfang, he uses the other to protectively clutch the xylophone to his chest, and--

That's a kick. From Rem. Because she's just fouettéd her foot against his cheek. The rat king goes flying-- maybe using a ballerina's shoe against a rat king makes it particularly effective, maybe not-- and lands meters away. ]

We got him! [ He's making a scramble for an exit, though. ]

[Daqiang valiantly darts forward - flying as fast as his little charm body could carry him - to fire a couple more blue hearts at the Pirat King. Attempting whole-heartedly (bam dum tish) to knock the instrument away from the villain's hands.]

The xylophone!

[His thought came with a sense of urgency. They had to get the xylophone and keep it away from the Pirat King! Even if the Pirat King escaped, the xylophone could not!]

Leap for it!

[Rem had made a few jumps in perfect pirouette while forced to dance, surely between her taller body and the fact that she could move her legs, she could reach the Priat King leaps and bounds faster than Daqiang could!]

[ Watch her leap!

In the absolutely ill-timed, grandiose way possible! Because she's a goddamn ballerina and everything and everything a ballerina does must be done gracefully and extravagantly!

What results is a chase... of sorts. The rat king scurries this way and that all the while Rem grand jetés as she attempts to catch it. Unfortunately, the leaps put her far too high up in the air to either catch, and her spins with her kicks only do so much to break the erratic movements of the rat. Despite her efforts, he swipes the xylophone from the ground, and with an evil cackle, he strikes it twice, sending a discordant soundwave throughout the throne room.

It breaks Rem's movements immediately, causing her to bend forward like a clockwork doll whose hinges have been stalled. The "dance" is not so much a dance anymore, but a curtain call. The rat wags his tail at both of them, vanishing into a puff of smoke. ]

...He's probably not far off. [ With the xylophone gone, she reaches behind her, awkwardly pulling at a lever on her back to straighten her posture.

Oh well. Can she make fun of Dongfang now. ]

[Rem was faster than he was with her leaps and though Daqiang attempted to get to the xylophone before the Pirat King managed to, his lack of mobility in the arms department left him unable to do more than try to block the Pirat King with his body. Which did not work at all and, in fact, the Pirat King practically ignored him as he grabbed the instrument and unleashed the cords that disabled Rem.

Daqiang hovered in place as the Pirat King disappeared in a puff of smoke (Daqiang used to be able to do that!), 2D body swiveling around furiously to face the exit and then Rem and back again. If he had his proper body he probably would have been pacing.]

Chase!

[He entreated, his swiveling growing faster. He wanted to, but he was not as fast as he should be and he would definitely need Rem's help to get the xylophone away or break it.]

[ But. But he looks so silly as a keychain-- okay, okay, she's rushing (jeté-ing) over to him, and with one more look, she swipes him directly from the air.

Being a clock-work ballerina gives her the advantage of both mobility and height, and it's the latter for which she's extraordinarily grateful, because what other time would she be able to fit him in the palm of her hand? He's so... small. And the little heart-shape of his hands! Adorable. OOh Mister Moon Lord Supreme, so scawwry ]

Where did he-- [ She turns with a flourish of her arms (sorry, he'll have to endure the movement), scanning the room and spotting a whiff of smoke coming from behind the throne. ] Over there! It must be a secret exit.

[ Rem leaps towards the throne, dancing around the seat. As she suspected, there's a trap door. ]

[She will get a very clear ANGRY feeling from him as she just up and swipes him from the air like he weighs nothing! ...because he does. This entire affair it terrible for his reputation! Who would take him seriously if the saw him like this? Rem barely did and she knew him!

But a trap door has been found! He can lament his terrible fate later.]

Hurry! Open!

[She might have him in her hands, but she can't stop his furious spinning about as he urged her to obey his command.]

[ Rem gives the trap door a tug-- no dice. Looks like she's going to need both hands for this, and considering he's occupying her other one and a tutu has no pockets...

She's simply going to stuff him in her bodice. ]

There we go! [ The hatch opens with a snap then loud clang as it hits the ground, and without waiting for him to caution her, she leaps down the hole.

Which is a shaft. No, a slide. A windy, bright, yellow, toy slide. DOOOOWN THEY GO SPINNING-- ]

[The spinning Daqiang stops spinning. Were he not already in a fixed position, he would freeze at finding himself stuffed inside her bodice. There's nothing to see, of course. It's all just polished and painted wood. But the fact was, this was the closest he had ever gotten to touching a woman intimately.

His cheeks, already pink from the painted blush they'd been given when he took this terrible, terrible form, brightened to red.

He tried to focus his attention on the slide and it made him dizzy because he couldn't shut his eyes and the only things he could have done to block the sight was turn around (!!!) or sink lower into her bodice (!!!). So when they finally made it to the bottom and she took stock of his state, she would find him feeling very wobbly with eyes that were rotating spirals to convey his dizziness and the woozy feeling he was currently experiencing.]

[ Rem is under the impression that the man cannot/will not experience emotion-- and is, in fact, depending on that very same fact as justification to stuff him into her bodice (because obviously, he won't be affected or care). Thus on the way down, she lets out an excited, breathless laugh as they ride the slide, completely oblivious.

When they eventually end up at the end of the tunnel, Rem tumbles out of the slide and onto her feet with a series of poised steps. Something about being a toy ballerina means being able to tolerate spinning and turning without becoming discombobulated. She even takes a bow! To whom? No one, but it's in her clockwork programming. When she straightens, she peers down at her chest.

Ah, the poor man. Even his eyes are spinning. Clearly, that's from the spiral of the slide. Smiling down into the valley of where she's wedged him, Rem lifts a finger to give him a single, delicate, soft poke on the middle of his forehead. ] Ehh, are you okay?

[ Her eyes are bright with amusement. ]

Edited 2023-12-14 07:18 (UTC)

[As she spins, blue fire spins outward from her tutu - not of his own accord by the transient power of his toy form being an accessory! Meant to make things cuter! (and thus more powerful)

It spreads like the petals of a beautiful flower before scattering as she comes to a standstill in tiny blue heart-shaped sparkles.

Daqiang does not notice this (though he knew he had an effect on others because of previous encounters on the way up), because he is still very dizzy.]

No spin!

[Was the most coherent he was able to be, his queasiness relayed along with the words.]

[ Hm. Pretty! Don't think she won't comment on it.

Donfgang being incoherent is a rather nice change, she finds. No barking orders at her! And since it seems he's rather helpless, Rem lifts a hand up to her chest, giving him what is meant to be a reassuring pat before proceeding down the tunnel. Don't worry, she'll keep you safe, Moon Supreme!

Since the rat king could only have proceeded down this way, she follows the tunnel. Given how far they've slid down, Rem guesses that they must be near the dungeons. ]

Everything about you is cute today, it is. [ She comments happily, not spinning down the hallway, but instead leaping every fourth step. ] The form you have, the fire... [ A soft laugh coincides with another landing of a jump, causing the curled felt of her hair to bounce lively with the rise and fall of the arc. ] Your little heart-symbol with your hands~!

[ She's just rubbing it in, really. ]

[The little pat does not reassure him and she will definitely get the feel of stress and frustration as she begins the journey through the tunnel. With every leap she takes, soft showers of sparkly blue hearts trail after her feet.]

Will tear out your hair!

[He threatened, it's effectiveness entirely undercut by the wave of annoyance and distress that accompanied it. He was the most powerful being in the Three Realms! He was the terror of Shuiyuntian! The tyrant lord with no taboos who could kill his own father without guilt! The worst in all the world!

He. Was. Not. Cute!]

[ All bark and no bite, this one. She only giggles at his response, dismissing his threat completely. At present, he lacks every bit of intimidation. As for the frustration he seems to express... she has half a mind to tease careful, you sound emotional, but decides against it. Something tells her that that sort of jest won't land with him. That, and there's no way he's actually frustrated. That'd be a weakness.

By the time Rem reaches the end of the tunnel, she's pieced together how the fire she'd seen coming from him earlier now enchants each of her steps. Rather than being a simple key chain, he's a magical charm! This knowledge involving the augmentation he provides will be useful, should they encounter the rat king again. With that in mind, she's going to keep him tucked in her bodice. ]

...I had thought this was leading to the dungeons, but maybe not. [ She places a hand on the stone wall, feeling the moisture gathered upon it. ] If this path was used as a king's escape route, we may be near an internal channel that leads out to the moat.

[ If the structure was more modern, she'd have guessed that any canal system within a fortress was used as either sewage or a coolant for a reactor. But no. This is a toy castle.

Rem moves to the door, pressing her ear against it. From beyond its wooden fame, she hears frantic, frustrated squeaking. ] Our priority is the xylophone. [ She looks down at Dongfang. ] And you seemed to be much more unaffected by it than me. [ She is the clockwork ballerina, in this case, and that instrument makes others dance. ] If we take the Pirat king head-on, we have to do so as quickly as possible.

[It was very difficult to make a rigid keychain charm dance. The best one could get was the spinning he already did naturally as the only real method of venting his frustration and impatience.]

Fire shoes! Head!

[He ordered, latching onto the one thing he was still able to do decently: command others in battle! And since she was using his power without asking him, she may as well use it properly.]

Throw body! Xylophone!

[A sense of his body being thrown towards the xylophone after kicking the Pirat King in the head with fire-powered shoes came along with the stilted order.]

[ Awww. No. Okay, that was all especially cute. She gives him a smile that's probably not at all reassuring, but one that appears as if she's doing her best to hold back another giggle. ]

[ But okay! Getting srs now! She nods in agreement with his plan.

Rem waits until she hears a crescendo in the squeaking beyond the door, interpreting it as the Pirat King angrily shouting at his henchmen. This might be the distraction they need! Just in case, she tests the door to see if it's unlocked. It's not, which means...

Rem backs up, preps, and then lunges forward, launching herself into a switch-leap that strikes the door. On its own it might not have been enough, but combined with the heart-fire he affords her, the blast it contains upon impact knocks the door down. She dashes forward from the debris and smoke, wasting no time with the fall.

On the other side of the door is a cavernous opening with a canal cutting through, as well as two toy soldiers and-- ] There! [ --the Pirat King.

They have their enemy caught by surprise! Rem rushes forwarding a series of leaps, each one prepping to ensure a solid, finishing blow on the last jump. It's going to be a close call, because after the second jeté she spots the king reaching for the xylaphone strapped to his chest. WILL SHE MAKE IT? She's coming down from the leap, turning, and whipping around her leg...! ]

[The Pirat King's weakness was shoes! He shouldn't have looked up to watch her, but his eyes spied the shoe! That perfect pink ballerina shoe sparkling with blue hearts and the Pirat King was frozen in fear. Flashbacks from another time, another dancer, another shoe that laid him low and by the time he managed to react, it was too late!

Her foot slaps him across the cheek like a knight challenging a rival with leather glove. A shower of blue sparkling hearts erupt at the impact.

The Pirat King doesn't quite lose his grip on the xylophone, but another strong hit would likely knock it from his grasp while he recovered from the dreaded shoe attack.]

Throw!

[ It- worked? It seems to have worked! Rem lands from the kick, allowing the blue hearts to fan out behind her.

And then she reaches into her bodice and chucks the keyring-sized-Moon-Supreme at the rat. No graceful way to do that, unfortunately. ]

[How embarrassing!

She chucked him hard as he had asked and it was a strong enough throw for him to go flying end over end into the xylophone with no chance for him to right himself along the way. His tiny body hit the Pirat King on the wrist holding the instrument and then promptly fell to the floor as he bounced off.

Fortunately, the slap on the wrist was enough to cause the Pirat King to flinch and drop the xylophone. Which was all Daqiang was really hoping for because now that he was not longer accessorized, he could control his fireblasts once more! Floating up to hover just over the ground, he shot blue heart fireballs one after another at the Pirat King to push him back and away from the instrument.]

Grab or break!

[He ordered as his continuous assault irritated the Pirat King and temporarily blinded him with all the blue sparkling hearts that kept appeared with each explosive hit.]

[ By this point in the scuffle, the two toy soldiers have already brandished their toothpick swords, so she's not immediately able to grab the xylophone. They march in, but their stiff movements are no match for the way Rem dances around their attacks! She swerves away from one poke, then another, bringing them closer together. With one well-timed leap away, she makes it so they accidentally strike at each other!

Now she's able to dive for the xylophone, which she promptly stomps on with the heel of her ballet slipper. One metal bar of the instrument cracks, releasing a thunderous sound that rings throughout the cavern. Rem is thrown back, but the soundwave might just wash over Dongfang, breaking the enchantment that's been cast upon him. ]

[The enchantment weakening on Daqiang did not release him from his toy body. Not entirely. He was still very flat, but no longer was he locked into a single position. And no longer was he small. Instead of being a tiny, cute, keychain charm, he had grown into a Customizable Plexiglass Standee!

Gone were the heart fingers! Gone was the tsundere blush! Gone was the adorable blue heart-shaped sparkles!

Now nearly a foot tall and posed dramatically in his full battle armor, hovering in front of a stylized sun with eyes blazing blue with Hellfire, Daqiang could literally look down on his enemies: the toy soldiers and the Pirat King.

Tilting his head down to increase the drama (Coolness = Power), he lifted a finger and pointed at the Pirat King. A bolt of electric-blue fire shot out and hit the Pirat King, knocking him into the canal where he began flailing in the water as he floated away. The toy soldiers were shot at next and they, too, ended up floating along in the gentle escape route.

With their enemies floating away and the xylophone at their feet, Daqiang turned his attention to Rem.]

[The xylophone needed to be destroyed.

But first!

Daqiang changed Poses again. Now his standee was just his head backlit by the sun with the base shaped like an armored hand that could reach out and grab Rem and bring her to stand before his giant head in judgement.]

Is this venerable one 'cute' now?

GETTING STARTED

WINTERSTIDE

YOTELSIA: TOY ISLAND

QUESTS

Rat King Battle

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