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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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Don't have much of a choice about that, do we?

[She can't keep living on the kindness of strangers forever. She wants to be able to take care of herself... and, if she's going to be stuck here a while judging from what others have either said or don't know, then she's going to have to make the best of it... for now.

And, with Cloud, Zack, and Red here, perhaps it's better that she does. She has to take care of them too, after all...

Tifa slides over her paper from the typewriter, and the man at the front counter hands over a room key. Good timing, because it's one of the few they have left, he tells her. With her payment taken care of, she sidles right back up to Eustace and Valo.]

Haven't even had the chance to look at the jobs yet, but... if you're ever in need of someone...

[She knows that they've only just met, and that they are very likely in separate armadas, the offer still stands, not just for him, but for anyone like her who is just trying to live.]

[ There was something ridiculously soothing about this guy standing next to him, Laguna had to admit as much. It was not even what he was saying but a presence that settled him in such a way, he could already tell that this guy was alright ]

Well, I fell off a cliff and landed into an ocean so the most I really got was very very waterlogged. [ He shrugged it off though damn is incessant curiosity, sorry Azriphale. ]

Where do you remember being last, before you showed up here?

Oh.

[ that does look like his coin purse, with the gold from home in it and everything. It isn't like him to lose something so valuable but...surely our most capable rogue did not get out rogued and pickpocketed by a dog?

He examines it for a moment before taking it, trying to figure out how and when he lost it but he finally just gives up and accepts it. (making a mental note to be less preoccupied because my goodness there are thieves about! he's one of them!)

Only when he does, it feels...wet? ]

Did you put it in your mouth?

[ yes this is the logical assumption here. ]

[Barnabas' blue eyes burn with intensity. He wants a fight. He wants a good fight. There was a reason why he made Cidolfus his Lord Commander. The man is a good fighter.

But is he good enough to give Barnabas the sweet taste of ruin he craves?

He doesn't think so, but he can hope.

As soon there's an open space, Barnabas stops.]

Here's good.

[ Maps were not exactly his strong suit however he could try for this girl. He reached out to take it and then unfolded it to a bit more of its fullness, scanning over it ] Well first of all, where are you looking to go?

[ He was totally squinting at the names and places and trying to figure out where they were in relation to it. It was a 99 percent chance that they were going to get further lost but hey, an attempt will have been made.

Besides, Laguna liked off the beaten track ]

[ He'll just have to live vicariously through Alcuard's description. Well, that and how nice the teas smelled. That was one rather good benefit of having hot tea, he could enjoy just being near it.

When Alcuard stands he follows. He does occur to him he doesn't need to follow this man around like a lost puppy all night but he hasn't tried to shake him yet. ]

Might as well make the most of your evening before we are well and truly conscripted to the cause.

Actually, you have it right on the money.

[ He was too happy-go-lucky to be truly chagrined when it came right down to it and so the opportunity to explore was a welcome one and this girl seemed to know exactly what she was doing. ]

Hey, that's a plan-- we can figure out what's what with this boat, the Royal Fortune, and see what it is about and what sort of people are on this boat? Oh yeah.. [ And then he stuck out his hand in a forthright manner ] Name's Laguna, you?

You've really bought in to this whole paladin thing.

[ A touch of skepticism but also...not entirely unpleasant surprise. Xenk is like beyond devoted. He's the kind of paladin you find in fiction. No one in real life is that good or that devoted. ]

[She hardly cracks a smile at that, and even tries to look upset by his comment about her, but beneath her hardened expression, there's a pang of something. Pride? Not quite, though it is there. But that he could so easily slide remarks like that one across at her after everything...? It should vex her to no end, and in some part it does—she wishes she could slap that grin off his face—but...

As she pretends to take an interest in the side table next to the bed, she thinks back to that moment before her priming again. Granted, she hasn't stopped thinking about it since she came down from her frenzy, but it finds the most inconvenient times to make itself known again... and again...

A silent reminder that she had faltered... that she had felt something. One that she is going to stamp out again, regardless of how many times it comes back up. She will stick by him until he has done what he does best because the other choices she has are far less desirable, and she will never speak to him again.

Benedikta slowly turns her attention back to him, eyes lingering on his hands as they open and shut the drawers, and it's only when he looks at her again that she feels even a little self-conscious about thinking of him at all.

The mention of the clothes—or lack thereof—has her pulling at her own. They're a touch too big and frumpy for her tastes, and she adjusts the loose waist of her pants with a low, impatient groan.]

They have a machine that can spit out our information, but they cannot provide properly fitting clothes...

[He is a hero!! Which isn't cringe at all to call himself in his world so he doesn't really think twice about that.]

Yes. You're Iida-san? [He flusters a little and then nods.] We better get a good idea of what our surrounding are right now... Do you want to look around with me?

[He might feel a tad guilty for punching it so hard but... It really was coming at her at full force. And he has no idea if there are any other birds like that one around so he's just going to edge on the safe side of caution.]

I've never seen seagulls look like that before... Usually they only want to steal food and not... attack people.

[He smiles a bit sheepishly.]

Ahh...! I'm Izuku. Nice to meet you ... March... 7th?

[March 7th????? ??]

There was nothing to buy.

[ What would he even buy?? What a strange thing to say. Oh, well. It's not the first time someone says something Xenk doesn't understand. It won't be the last either. ]

I swore my oath over a century ago, and I have lived accordingly since. It's my purpose.

[ 100+ years ago, a tiny, scared Thayan boy was saved by a paladin and his entire life was changed. You know how it goes! ]

No it's...a figure of speech.

[ he literally just stops to stare at him like are you for real. ]

And don't play the "I'm too old to understand" card with me. I'm at least a hundred years older than you.

[ Astarion, you remind him so much of Edgin Darvis, it's actually kind of amazing.

Instead, Xenk smiles. Does he do this on purpose or does he just not get it? Or maybe he's smiling because he's met someone older than him, who's being totally normal about it? ]

I wasn't aware that we were playing cards.

[ This is the man who finds irony to be a tool that cuts the wielder most gravely. He just. He will always choose the literal option. ]

It's fine.

[He raises his cup to his lips and drinks. It's fine. He preferred the ale from the tavern, but it's fine.]

Long enough to run into Cidolfus.

[His eyes spark with a bit of mild amusement.] We fought. But I made it clear I would take him back. I doubt he will see reason, but the offer was made. I ran into the Little Prince as well before the brawl broke out.

[He takes another sip. To business. Give Benedikta something to focus on.]

As we don't know if returning to Waloed is possible, conquering this world seems a worthwhile use of our time. I'll need your talents as an Intelligencer especially.

[Hit her talents there. Remind her she's important to him for more than Garuda.]

[ Astarion disapproves. ]

Forget it.

[ this conversation is a lost cause!! He's heading back into town! Keep up paladin!! ]

[He'll assume Dion either has, or will shortly]

Much of my early life was spent on a ship. And you know of the Einherjar being the pride of my fleet.

[It's well known he came from south of Valisthea, so he's not giving anything away there. But polite conversation has its uses. He has no personal quarrel with the Prince; their nations were doing what nations do, conquer. If he can't have Cidolfus, the Prince would make a good Commander for the forces he'll build up.

He lifts his tankard to his lips.]

Aye. This world is strange. [He puts his tankard down.]

I have no quarrel with you, Bahamut, and I'm not interested in starting one with you. This world is new to us both, a fresh start.

[ Xenk approves, smiling. He follows Astarion with a notable spring in his step. Even if all he's done is piss him off.

You see, all Astarion has done is prove he's a good person. This is what they call banter, isn't it? Xenk is so glad he made a friend :) ]

[Unaware of Benedikta's thoughts—and honestly considering of somehow acquiring his own ship at some point after figuring out what's real and what isn't about this place—Cid closes the drawers and glances at her.

He then looks her over, and after a moment's thought—]

Here.

[He takes off the belt and hands it to her as if it were natural—]

Pants are pretty snug so don't really need it.

[—and it is, a little. Or it used to be, in their past.

However, his attitude and demeanor doesn't seem to suggest he's thinking much of it, acting as if it was just an idea that popped into his head to solve her little problem. Nothing more, nothing less. (But of course, it was more.)]

[Scanning around, Cid nods in agreement—one of the very, very few he'll ever have with the man as he stands in front of him, fist still clenched in his palm.

It's a strange feeling, this. Once upon a time he actually looked up to this man. Barnabas's ability to lead and wield such great power was—and begrudgingly—is something to admire and respect. For a man like Cid, who came from beyond Valisthea and had no clue, joining his side seemed the obvious thing to do. A place to prove to his worth, his skill, his talents—to find a better future in a land blessed by the Mothercrystals. It's why he left, and at the time being under Barnabas's command made the most sense.

And for a time, it did.

Until everything flipped around, and now the only feelings he hold is contempt, disgust, hatred. Perhaps there's also bitter resentment as well, feeling as if he had been played for a fool all those years. But that was then, and this is now. Now he's shaped himself to be his own. While he knows he's still at a severe disadvantage in terms of fighting prowess, he's no pushover. And at the very least, he will make that clear.

Even should Barnabas kills him where he stands, he'll never get what he truly seeks. Cid would make sure of that.

However, just as he's about ready to just lunge for Barnabas, a voice interrupts with a huff.

"Ooooy! You two! If you're just gonna stand around making googly eyes at each other, at least do some moppin'!"

EXCUSE!?!

But both men will have mops in their hands before they realize it, the large jack rabbit muttering as he walks away to yell at some others lingering on the deck.

...

......

And Cid will just twirl his around.]

Well he's right, there is some moppin' I need to do.

[Eustace stares at him in confusion before his eyes flick down to the pouch and recall the dampness of it. Immediately his expression contorts in offense.]

Of course not.

[ Xenk lives to ruin people's "fun," when that fun is thievery!! Selfish thievery, anyway. If you steal for the right cause, he can turn a blind eye. Ish. It's fine. ]

You steal nothing that is freely given.

[ Dead serious, he is bad at metaphors and also maybe he's continuing his point about people are nice, if you ask, they will give you things. Ah, paladins. ]

Indeed. I dug out a chest using one of several shovels that had been left out for us. It seems the local populace would rather we be reunited with our belongings. Certainly, the sooner we find all of our things, the sooner their beaches can return to their normal states.

[His eyes widen in surprise as he stares at her. ...Well this is...

...]

Sorry, but I'm not into that kind of service.

[He's going to misinterpret that very poorly.]

[She isn't even sure what compelled her to reach her hand out when he held it out to her, but one second, she was complaining about her pants and in the next, she feels the weight of his belt draped over her palm, almost like it was a reflex to take it. A long time ago, it had been... Those mornings when she would leave the Lord Commander's chambers wrapped up in his leathers...

He'd done it so many times that all of it was second-nature.

And though he might not appear to think much of it, that fact makes something in her heart sting as she stares at the belt, and then wraps it around her waist.]

Fine...

[It's grumbled under her breath over the sound of the metal buckle clinking softly.]

But do not think I will be returning it.

[Is her way of saying that this will be the last time that they see each other...]

Dragoon? You don't look a gunner to me.

[He shrugs and considers the ink colors and the designs the artist is showing off.]

Whatcha thinking of getting? Part of me wants a cog since that's sorta the symbol of my hometown. But man, that place is full of egotists.

[He grins, knowing he's describing himself.]

Maybe a feather to represent my pseudonym, Jarro Lightfeather. Ooh! Maybe something to represent all the treasures I liberated.

I wonder what the history of tattoos is here. Each culture has its own interesting origin of them. Some places use them as religious marks, or a caste mark, in some it's a clan thing.

Edited (hit reply on accident. ) 2023-08-22 16:37 (UTC)

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« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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Not that kind of fetch

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i laughed so hard

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