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Welcome to the first 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 invitations from the mods can actually reserve on August 25th and apply on September 1st. Our Interest Check can be found here.

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice. If undecided, put "Undecided" for the Armada.

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 carryover the threads. We'll have more armada focused prompts in the opening log in September. The log itself is set to cover the next two weeks, 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.

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR MAGIC USERS!! All magic abilities will be "sealed" until characters get their tattoo from the Inkwave parlor in Eltrut. That means no magic on the starter ships before docking.

We do require TDM threads for samples for our application!

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 August 28)

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

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.

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

After reaching the port of Eltrut, several birdfolk will appear and happily greet all the new arrivals from both starter ships. Here it doesn't matter which side they are affiliated with, as long as they keep those swords and weapons sheathed and not pointed at each other's throats. The birdfolk will even act as guides, showing them the main places they should visit and give them a visitor's map to help guide them.

🐚 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.

It's a lot to take in for sure, with the port city bustling with all walks of life. Not only do they have both armadas mingling with each other, there are different races and species from all over Escordvi gathered here. It's not just humans, which many riftfarers always seem to be surprised about. There are also plenty of veteran riftfarers who will gladly give some advice and even share stories of their world. Maybe some are familiar.

After finding their belongings, exploring the town, and meeting other people, being able to just sit back and enjoy a drink and warm meal will be in order. While there are plenty of places to choose from, the Minstrel and Cask will be the top recommended tavern for all newcomers to visit at least once. Great drinks, great food, and can learn a lot from the patrons or meet more people.

Of course, as expected of a highly popular tavern, it's not always peaceful. A man will ask travelers what they want to do with their life. Clearly drunk, he only accepts answers that hint at wanting to find riches. If told this he will give out a treasure map. But if told anything else, he'll put up a fight, hoping to deliver a black eye. Those who do receive the map will be sorely disappointed—it will lead them down a long, winding, circuitous path around town and end at a random outhouse, likely occupied and certainly stinking to high heavens. There's likely some kind of moral here, but at some point, others who have been duped will return to the tavern to sling their fists around.

Looks like another tavern brawl for the night.

QUESTS

For those who want to try their hand at some quests, there are a few that would do well for newcomers. 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.

Spicy Squid Eating Challenge

Eltrut Port

There is a traveling food ship (think food truck but on the water) that has been going around challenging ships to their extraordinary Hornswaggle's Spicy Squid Eating Challenge. If participants can scarf down a prepared three-pound bowl of exceptionally spicy ghost pepper squid and rice, they will win their meal for free as well as a crate of dried spicy squid for their ship's stores. If participants fail, they will have to pay for the meal and the crate.

...Careful, are some of the squid tentacles still moving?

Coral Reef Snacks

Eltrut

Rumour has it that certain types of coral reefs contain unique properties that can make you more alluring to the one you desire, but no one is sure what the side effects are. Test this out by trying to crunch into chunks of coral reef pieces to see if there are any added effects on your body. Hopefully, they don't ruin your teeth in the meantime.

Oh, and you have to find the correct coral reef too! Red chunks seem to make you more affectionate towards others, while blue chunks seem to make you more volatile towards others. Eaters, beware!

Giant Sea Slugs

Starter Ships

Giant sea slugs tend to only attack ships if they feel threatened but are otherwise peaceful creatures. They're about the size of a large wild cat. They also secrete a slime that contains strong disinfectant properties. This thick slime is highly sought after for its ability to heal wounds cleanly, so kill them and collect as much slime as possible.

Killer Sharkgulls

Eltrut port and ships

Seagulls can be a pain to most ships. Yet, seagulls that have evolved to be violently carnivorous can be even worse. These new birds, effectively named sharkgulls, have been seen attacking ships and ports alike. They are big enough to eat small children in one gulp or will do their best to eat full-grown humans after they've ripped them to bite-sized shreds. Beware and kill them before they can kill you!

Siren's Serenade

Out at Sea

A merchant's ship has crashed upon an outcropping of rocks after being lured in by a group of rogue sirens. These captivating creatures possess the power to ensnare their prey with their enchanting voices, luring unsuspecting souls into the depths to meet the grim fate of drowning.

Search for the missing ship and help rescue the captive sailors before it's too late! You will be supplied with special earplugs to muffle out the siren's voices so be careful to keep your ears effectively plugged. You don't want to succumb to the siren's bloodlust yourself.

Any sailors or rescuers affected by the siren's song can be treated with a harpy's potion that can reverse the song's effect. Or tie up the afflicted for twenty-four hours to wait out the effects.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

If only...

[ Surprising here, too, that he'd been able to amass such a collection so quickly. Game recognizes game. Alucard has definitely been stealing from other places too.

He leafs through the money and the rings but ultimately decides against taking any (even though he probably definitely deserved to) and closes the door and locks it. If Alcuard was smart enough to hide his stuff anywhere else, it's safe for now. He's not doing a deep dive here just a little bit of casual snooping.

He needs a bath pretty badly though and he still feels gross. So maybe he'll take care of that now that he's done looking through Alucard's things. ]

[ Yeah, Xenk may not get the reasoning behind Astarion's comments or his humor, but he knows that when people don't answer your question, it's because they're deflecting from the answer. ]

I believe I understand your meaning. [ Does he? ] An eternity of monotony would drive anyone to madness.

[ Except in Xenk's case he means the sex is what would break up that monotony. Plus he really has had to contend with that thought, so it's once again something he says completely seriously. ]

I'll be difficult to miss, at the very least.

[Reaper watched Jarlaxle's parting before taking a few moments to himself; wouldn't be at the table still if the man did look back. Gone already with just a few hints of fading 'smoke' in the air.

Even now he was contemplating something; just how easily could he decide to play along with being stuck in this place, and apparently part of a group that weren't law-abiding sailors. Oh, he could make himself fit to look it himself and have a little fun.

Why not? Make it something dramatic enough—

Wouldn't be hard to miss at all. Still hooded and draped in black as he stood on the beach. Watching the waves and the water itself. Almost nostalgic, really.]

[ The general impression is that Alucard leaves his life out on display shamelessly, or else expected everyone who was here for nefarious reasons would just hone in on his valuables in a locked drawer.

A bath purely consists of being in sea water and bring-your-own-soap (BYOS). Actually, Astarion would have found that Alucard has some soaps; they are scented in something like the softer part of embers from a fire, the slice of silver, and something that was somehow floral yet masculine all the same. Perhaps he's experimenting. Perhaps he's collecting. Perhaps he's all these men in one way or another.

There's a hard rattle of the boat as they meet a dock, aftershocks thumping against the boardwalk. Bells ring, announcing a change-over in shift. That should be Astarion's cue to get out if he's going to. If he doesn't, Alucard is liable to show up soon. ]

[ Alucard has unfortunately had a lot of experience with drinking in the last few years, but the upside is he's spending this night with someone upbeat, not alone in his cabin. Xenk's joy is infectious even without being a practiced actor.

It makes him, possibly ironically, unwind a little bit more. He hums over his tankard, narrowing his eyes. ]

Can you not lie ever? Not even specifically for a game where it might be required by the premise?

Edited 2023-08-28 08:17 (UTC)

Well I happen to have some form of money now. My thoughts were to see if I couldn't spend it on a decent new outfit and a few drinks.

If a Night Market exists, I can have it all, but I'm willing to take the latter. Would you like to come?

[ Alucard is a smart man. Implications flood in - perhaps even more than what might be true. The important thing as he keeps staring at Zack, blinds his eyes and looks down, as if pensive.

He needs to freak the fuck out.

It can't be here, though, not in front of an audience of strangers. Alucard centers himself enough in a moment of adrenaline to ask a few questions. ]

It sounds like this is a common happenstance here. So what should I do? What did you do?

[ He flops down on the bed, brushing his fingers up through his hair; it's is just some other mode of anyone else scrubbing their face for their nerves, no matter how conventionally handsome he is. ]

[He and the other that had been with him at the time, Astarion if he recalled correctly, had definitely showed they had landed amongst the right group with that at the very least. Reaper still had the knife on him that had been slipped into a pocket while he'd gotten the cook and the other had gotten as many needed for improvised weapons; kept them.

Better to keep those suspicions and guard up while only getting some stories from those on the ship. All of them waiting to get to Eltrut. Decide who could be trusted, even if only in act to try and have some advantages with number, and just how much to give. He could operate alone just fine, but it was always better to know a few names that were capable people.

His head cocked to one side yet again, looking this young man over once more. The subtle changes, the tone of voice.

Arms unfolded as he leaned forwards just a bit, keeping up that sort of towering position out of habit.]

Outside of the information spared once the typewriter is used? The sight of a large turtle that supports the port town on it's back can be seen from here? That there are others just like us here, and have been here long enough some have their own ships with crews, that they've made lives here?

[What could this boy be after? It was interesting, pulling something while genuinely being worried.]

[Tifa watches from a distance, her head only just peeking out from behind the rocks to see what's going on, and far enough that Eustace can see that she's still there and paying attention. Her stomach sinks when she spots that man half-laying in the water, like someone's just set an anchor in her, and she wishes that she could leap out to help him—she still has those potions that could cure him of that siren-induced stupor of his, and her hand even reaches into her pocket to feel them, but she'll hold fast. It's only a small kink in their plan, but not enough for her to risk ruining it now.

She sees Eustace nod once he drags the man out, and he'll see the most subtle of ones from her before she spots those ripples in the water not far from the shore. She can hear their song growing louder, though unlike the sailors, she hears nothing of interest—just noise that could be masked as humming.

But her eyes are on Eustace, watching him carefully for any changes in his demeanor. The thing she is most worried about—in spite of everything—is him falling under and getting snatched by them, too. At such a close distance, it's not impossible...

Tifa shuffles around to the edges of the rocks for a better view, and already, she can feel the fire at her fingertips, ready and waiting for the sirens to finally crawl out from under the surface.

And there it is—they reach shallow enough water that their heads emerge first, one by one, and how many of them are there!? Their humming has turned to giggling, and their clawed fingers beckon to Eustace first, testing to see if he will come to them.]

[Despite the smirk, she's not joking, so when he questions her again, she tries to take it back, but he grabs it first before she can...]

Well, if you'd rather not, then I will put it back...!

[And now she's defensive about it, glaring at the bear as if it had just shot her the dirtiest look first.]

[It's probably a good thing she wasn't carrying anything because she might have dropped it all just then, along with the pit of her stomach. She tries to keep an even expression for Cloud's sake—now is not the time to be panicking and worrying and fretting and all of the other hundred different mixed things she's feeling right now, but she feels as though the entire ship has just lurched underneath her, and that she's about to go tumbling overboard.

...

Silence lingers a moment—several—before she finally speaks, taking a step closer to him.]

Cloud...? That's...

[A pause when she hears a loud thump and a cry on the deck of the ship somewhere behind her as another person lands, and she pulls back that step, a hand going to her chest.]

Why don't we go find somewhere quieter?

[ Astarion? Deflecting? Perish the thought! ]

Exactly! Imagine how insufferable I'd be, then. And there would be nothing to sate my desire. I'd probably have to drink from the living.

[ this is how Xenk knows he's becoming a friend, because Astarion only starts joking about Vampire Things with friends. Even if he wouldn't use that word, we know. Joking about vampirism is something he does on a regular day of course but the fact Xenk is also undead has given him license to be twice as bad ]

Edited 2023-08-28 15:11 (UTC)

[ Xenk blinks from over his empty tankard. ]

What reason would I have to lie? My oath decrees I speak always the truth.

[ He tries to think on it... no, he's never played any games where you need to lie. Straight up, he just never lies. ]

Edited (tankard mug same diff right ) 2023-08-28 15:15 (UTC)

[ Xenk observes Astarion closely. He does not seem serious about what he is saying, despite this making no sense to Xenk. A joke, then? What a strange thing to joke about, to call himself insufferable and toy with the idea of biting people. Xenk knows he would not do that.

Perhaps, like so many he has met before, he "jokes" about the things that cause him so much pain. ]

Then we must ensure you are ever able to find partners to copulate with.

[ He sounds very serious, (and he kind of is) but I promise you, he's trying to get in on the joke. This is how he does it. See, he can be funny! He just sounds totally serious. This is the man you're friends with, Astarion! ]

Edited (he's always serious that's not a secret ) 2023-08-28 15:24 (UTC)

[Oh.

Well now he really wants to keep it.]

No, no, I think it's quite charming.

[....He is realizing he just punned there a beat late, as evident by the delayed chuckle and slight duck of his head as he holds up the bear just out of her reach in case she tries to grab it.]

And since you picked this out, only fair I do the same.

[Only there's something of a wicked grin as he turns to the display, having already seen the perfect one. And of course. It's a duck. A green one. One that he'll hold out in front of her.]

[Oh, she would slap him for that stupid play on words if she wasn't already too busy trying to grab it back, but when he lifts it out of her reach and her fingers grasp at air, she just swears at him under her breath and falls back.

Only to lower her gaze when she catches sight of the green duck.]

This again? Will you ever drop it?

[She is not that person anymore. Not the woman who follows him around like a small duckling would—she is the one who is followed.

Yet, in spite of her snappy remark, she quickly extends a hand to take it from him.]

No, no, no--there is no "we" in this. The last time you so much as stood nearby I lost out on a perfectly nice evening!

[ He thinks maybe Xenk is joking? But Xenk doesn't joke so that's weird. Maybe he's learning. But Astarion would say this either way, so it works out. ]

I am perfectly capable of finding my own partners, thank you.

[ he's a professional ;) ]

[For the most part, Eustace is faring well enough against their songs. The earbuds help, but as he told Tifa, there was nothing they could draw from him that would get a response. He had no love nor any romantic inclinations. And while he could hear some hints of his family... He's settled that as well, and it only angers him instead.

However.

He has to at least pretend to be lulled to their voices.

So he'll stop walking just a few feet short of the water's edge, just out of reach of the shipwreck. And slowly... His arm will lower, Flamek now dangling precariously at his side. The gun even clicks at him, but just gives it a slight pressure with his fingertips as he closes his eyes.

It's then that he realizes they are singing something different.

Peace and quiet.

A world where he can just let himself fall into and no longer have to be burdened by others, to slip into a quiet, peaceful embrace.

How tempting such a thing would have been not too long ago...

But rather than their voices, he listens to the sound of the water. The sound of bodies shuffling through the sand. The smell of rotten flesh and seawater drifting closer and closer...]

[Hmm.]

That I cannot say for certain. The original designs were based on Astral engineering, but the technology for the engines have advanced and modified to no longer use it.

[And he's just going to continue smile cheekily at her—especially when she takes it.]

Yet it's now in your hands.

[And then, he'll feel it.

As soon as the group of sirens have pulled themselves out of the water, there's a surge of heat that goes up around him, and them. It isn't much—the flames don't burn as hot or stand as tall as she would like, but it's enough that it can keep the sirens in place to spare him enough time to do whatever it is he planned to do once those flames went up.

It's then that Tifa stands, watching as they crawl and scramble to get away from the flames as they push them further up the shore and closer to Eustace. She readies herself, heel digging into the sand, prepared to launch down the beach and to his aid should he need it, but for now, she'll focus on maintaining the magic, the green materia at her wrist glowing bright.]

[In her hands and in a protective fist.]

That isn't what I asked.

[And Benedikta is going to turn on her heel and lead them towards the vendor, who is just finished ringing up another customer, and she can see the way his shoulders immediately straighten, and eyes go wide when he spots her approaching looking none too pleased, a light and troublesome flush colouring her cheeks now that her back is to Cid.]

We will take these.

[Now that was a way to make an exit. He'd be asking some questions about that later, to be sure, if nothing else because gosh he'd sure love to be able to do that how mysterious.

He'd be upon the beach later, bringing along his tottering, sodden giant to do the digging. If the man didn't have one hand on the shovel and the other partially out to ensure he didn't topple over, both of them might have been on the drow by the look of it. Or rather, by the looks Jarlaxle was getting, god knows what the elf promised him. Something was mumbled by the man when he spotted Reaper, 'who's this' made the most sense though it came out more like 'oo's 'is'. The question was waved off as Jarlaxle gestured towards the beach.]

Just a guide, don't be so jealous.

[His attention was turned back to Reaper just as soon as he said that of course-]

We should be looking for loose sand, I would imagine? It shouldn't have been buried for very long, hardly enough time for things to settle.

I suspected as much.

[ Xenk smiles. Yes, this was a joke. Mostly he expected Astarion to lose his mind about this, so it worked. Xenk may not know humor, but he does know how to get a rise out of a certain kind of person. ]

My skills lie elsewhere.

[ Xenk has never courted anyone, are you kidding? He feels attraction and probably gets them flowers and when that doesn't work he goes "oh, well, wasn't meant to be but that's ok because there's still evil to thwart in this world." ]

I didn't imagine darkvision would be a blessing from Tyr. That doesn't quite seem to be his aesthetic.

[He's not arguing! Prompting rather, keen for a story but without necessarily demanding it. He looked towards the spot indicated, hefting the shovel and heading towards it.]

With any luck, it'll be scarcely a few feet down and we can both return to more pleasurable activities. Not that I haven't found your company to be anything short of interesting, mind you.

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STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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