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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.

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[She's still, as if her and the world around her had just stopped. The silence in the cabin is deafening, the groan of the ship as it rocks on the waves so loud that it almost drowns everything else out... Her eyes grow distant as she recalls all those memories—or what she can of them anyway. They're fuzzy and spotty, many pieces missing before...

...]

You're that infantryman...!

[That realization finally dawns on her.]

The one that I helped back to Nibelheim!? But why...? [Her voice cracks, the hurt beginning to surface.] Why didn't you say anything?

[Another step towards him.

She's watched and known him a long time, both from afar and up close. She learned his ticks, his habits, remembers every little thing about him, and she knows when he is holding something back. When there is something he doesn't want to say.]

Do I not what?

[She sharpens that edge in her voice in a poor effort to hide the trembling that's there. A part of her wonders if she already knows the answer and that is why her hands suddenly won't stop shaking, or why the pit of her stomach seems to drop heavy with a terrifying amount of dread. Why her eyes feel hot as the panic tries to find someplace to go when it becomes too much...

But she won't believe it.

The last thing that she remembers is calling on Garuda, and the Eikon taking control. That's it. That's all there was... and then she woke up here.

So why?

Why is he looking at her like this?]

Say it.

[ One day they may come to realize just how similar their reasons for revenge are, and the differences. Her brother didn't come back the same Clive's did. A power hungry being wears his face now.

Clive's words earn him a skeptical look. ]

Not the usual reaction I get from most people. Why would you help me? [ Velvet knew Rokurou and even Eizen's motive, the witch just seems to be looking for a fun show. But she doesn't understand Clive yet. ]

Velvet.

[ Maotelus help anyone that gets in their way while they're both in a bad mood. At least they won't leave any bodies in their wake.

Velvet makes a sound of amusement. ]

They're pirates, I'd hope they know someone they don't want to make angry.

[ While he's getting his shellphone, she'll wait up here for him. They can talk and observe the crew the rest of the way to Eltrut. Velvet might not be a sailor, but she's been with the Van Eltia crew that she knows what has to be done. ]

The Royal Fortune.

[She would be a piss poor spy if she didn't at least know the name of her "supposed enemies", or whatever they want to explain it as here. That's the impression that she got from the little bit of it that she actually listened to when they told her.]

Well. It's not as if I'll be sticking around for very long on the Stormbringer myself. ... If you are ever looking for a crew.

What, you think that Greagor is the one behind all of this? Or that the gods saw fit to dump all of us here instead?

[There's some bitterness laced into her voice.]

A cruel fate that is. And not such a merciful god.

[ Cloud doesn't verbally respond. But the way his gaze shifts off to the side? Yeah, that's more than enough confirmation right there. It's not like Tifa won't find out eventually. But this time isn't it better to hear it from Cloud directly?

Maybe. He doesn't know. ]

Pride, maybe. Shame that I said I'd join SOLDIER and I hadn't.

Well...yeah, but I haven't really got my life figured out yet. Big monster's gone forever, new age of peace? It gets a little boring after the excitement wears off. Everybody around me's settling down, starting a family, out on business...

But me? I've been all over my world and I don't feel any more sure of...well, anything. So maybe I have to think bigger, you know?

[Fuck. Fuck.]

Benedikta—

[Again it's very rare for him to not be able to answer quickly, but as she steps towards him, there's a strange shift in his expression. It's subtle, but she's close enough to him to notice—the way his lips purse into a thin line, his eyes trembling slightly as the memory of seeing her lifeless and bloody on the ground.

How long had it been really? Days? Weeks? Not long enough for it to not still sting. Not long enough for those regrets to disappear.

It certainly didn't disappear with his own death.]

—I thought you knew.

[...Aaah.]

Sounds like you've been quite busy. I suppose looking at this world like a new adventure is one way to go about it then.

[She notices. It's the only thing that she notices. The sky, the ocean, the people, the winds—all of that disappears in a blur and the only thing she can focus on is that look on his face, and the way that he says her name.

How long she is silent for after that, she doesn't know, but he can no doubt see it in her eyes... How she works through her thoughts so desperately, clambering her way through the mess that he's made of them, as if he's taken everything she knew and scattered it all about to leave her to pick it all up.

She's confused, and she refuses to believe what her gut is telling her. What her gut may have been trying to tell her since she woke up in this place bloodied and damn near torn apart. She pushed it back, ignored it until she would forget about it completely, all of the new, unfamiliar information taking its place.

But that look is so telling.

And yet... she wants to hear it from him. Wants him to say the words that she knows he isn't saying...]

Knew what!?

[She can feel herself losing that control she kept tightly wound as she belts it out with an abrupt, shrill shriek that sends heads whirling around to stare, but she doesn't give a damn. Let them stare. Let the balk. Let them fucking judge.]

Knew what, Cidolfus!? Just fucking say it!

Edited 2023-09-08 01:57 (UTC)

I only barely started traveling on land back home. Let alone going across the ocean.

[Which. He isn't against the idea. He's just not necessarily experienced in traveling, about boats or ships. So he will have to learn and adjust as best he can while here. Even if it might take some time. He would manage. Others here probably know more, have more experience. And he could in turn help them with the things he was more knowledgeable about.]

But it opens up so much potential! I mean. all the history and ruins that you could get to with a ship!

Oh aye, just what I was hoping for.

[Getting downstairs without being hit by someone's flying drink--either flung at an enemy or being used to conduct the drunken-sailor song--is definitely a challenge in agility, and Faris is protective enough of his own clothing that he is trying to avoid it, while trying to seem like he doesn't care.

He does grab one drunk to shield himself from the flying booze of another drunk, leaving them both to fight each other.]

You don't seem too bothered by anything here.

[To anyone else would he have managed to stay more composed? He has no fucking clue, and even now he has no idea what to do or say. Instead he just takes a step forward.]

Look, let's just—

[Say it she yells at him. How the fuck is he supposed to tell her like this!?]

[And she takes a step back, a hand swinging at him to maintain that distance, and to stop him from moving any closer.]

It's true, isn't it?

[The thing that she is afraid of? The thing that she dreads that has been nagging at her since he let it slip... He knows what she means. She knows that he does. He may not speak it, but Benedikta has spent a long time trying to read him, whether he realizes it or not. Cidolfus may be a mystery to her now, a distant dream from once upon a time, but there are some things that she hasn't let herself forget.]

[He stops at her retreat, open hand hovering in the end before it clenches into a fist and he swallows.]

...Aye.

[Her own hands ball into fists at her sides, and she can feel several more heads turning to stare as she vaults herself towards the railing and stares out over it to the docks below.

She's going to be sick.]

... How? H-how did it...?

[But she already knows the answer to that, too.]

Garuda...?

[He watches her before his fist taps against the railing before he speaks slowly.]

...You lost control, took in too much aether and primed. Clive...

[Her eyes, though already stained with the beginnings of tears, are feral as she looks over to him.]

Who?

[The name doesn't ring a bell, and even if it did, it's not one that she would have remembered in the moment. But this Clive...]

What did "Clive" do?

[Who is he? What did he do? And more importantly, where can she find him?]

[He is so fucked right now and he knows it. But there was no easy way for this, is there?]

You lost control, turned the entire wood into a tornado and was sucking everything in.

[He grits his teeth.]

You two fought, and he won.

[That's it. That's all he has to say.]

[Her fingers wrap around the rail, squeezing so tight that the wood groans under the pressure. So tight that she might just snap the whole thing clean in half if she presses any more... All of her blood rushes to her head and she feels dizzy with anger, her vision going between blurring and almost whiting out completely as she tries to focus on him.

On his face. His voice. His words. All of it betraying everything that she thought he might have felt today.

Betraying her.

Again.]

That fucking...

[The words ride out of her on a snarl, and it's then that she feels all of the wind knocked out of her. Like Cid has taken her and thrown her overboard, sent her tumbling down to drown in the sea.

It was that Bearer that was with him. It's the only thing that makes sense. And he speaks of it as if he had been there, too. Of course he would have been—they were inseparable, weren't they? Tied at the hip. Where Cid went, so too did he, and how fucking annoying it was.]

Your fucking pet Bearer...

[Her breath hitches, and as she tries to blink the angry tears away, they only fall instead.]

You knew all along, didn't you? You... you let it happen... All of it.

[Just like he had when he took her powers.]

[His face contorts at the accusation.]

Now listen, I had no idea he could do any of that. I was surprised just as you.

[And once they started fighting, he couldn't intervene. Bloody hell, he could barely get in there, with or without priming, and then by the end—

His nails dig into his palm as he remembers. How he had tried to stop him but it was too late—]

And so that's why you let him—

[She pushes herself away from the railing with a growl, and she almost screams to the skies. Almost curses his name for the whole fucking world to hear, but instead, she only buries her face into her hands, hiding the tears and biting back the violent sobs that threaten to consume every part of her. Instead, it just makes way for more anger, more hurt... all those feelings bubbling up to the surface again after six years.]

You let him...

[He didn't stop it. He could have stopped it, but he didn't. There is leaving his kingdom, turning his back on her and his vows, and then there is this...]

I can't...

[Now, people have started to flock over to them, some quietly and cautiously asking if she's okay, others concerned with Cid, but it's an audience that she doesn't need nor want. Not now, not ever. Of all the fucking people to see her like this, it would be him, wouldn't it? She didn't care what all the rest of them thought, but him?

Why does he still matter so fucking much?]

I can't do this... I can't...!

[She turns on her heel and immediately tries to run without looking where she's going, and instead, she bumps into someone.]

Move!

[... and violently shoves them out of the way, sending the poor cat girl who had helped them earlier go tumbling back onto the ground. She pushes her way through, screaming at people to get out of her way, and with that...

...

She disappears.]

[The last time he saw her spiraling out of control, he could only look on with disappointment and some regret. Firm in his belief that she hadn't really wanted to do anything with him and so he just remained where he was, that the rift between them was just too wide. Felt that it was his responsibility to deal with, but a lot of good that did.

And now?]

Benedikta, wait—

[He takes a step towards her, the guilt and regret twisting his chest like a knife. But it's then that she turns and flees, and all he can do is shout and rush out after her.]

Benedikta!

[He pushes past the crowd, but it's too late. Even as he runs down the path, he looks this way and that, trying to find even a trace, but there were too many people, too many paths she could have taken.]

Shit!

[With a harsh swear he slams his fist against a rough coral wall, not caring how the pieces cut into his skin. For a moment, he thinks he should run after her anyway, but his feet remain still.

Because he knows deep down, he has no right to.

Not this time.

Because even if it's true that he couldn't intervene, she's ultimately not wrong.

He let her die.

It's not even just about the battle with Clive. She was likely already dead from that last attack that knocked her out of Garuda. Death was likely the only ending with how much out of control and aether she had taken.

No, it's not that.

It was everything leading up to that, from when he couldn't stop her changing back in Waleod, to not being able to convince her to leave with him, and then all the bitter feuds after. Until at some point a part of him did give up to focus on his own mission he set himself on.

And how he had been blinded and not realize the truth. Of not accepting what was in front of his eyes because of his own doubts, own suspicions.

For a long time he remains there, ignoring the questioning looks and whispers until at last he finally moves. The cut isn't deep, but he would eventually have to clean it. But for now...he just does what he's always been doing. Which is move forward...and try and figure out what the fuck he's going to do next.]

Why not? [ After all, he can't possibly explain what happened. ]

I don't believe anyone ever claimed she was...merciful. She has multiple sides, of course. We destroyed Her crystals, She would have every right to be angry.

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STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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