escordvi | « test sail »

Entry tags:

« test sail »

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

[Bro, it has nothing to do with friendship—although it would help relax things between them. Either way, Dion is going to learn the hard way that Cid is very much like his daughter and will behave friendly towards anyone, no matter who it is. ~~Barnabas excluded.~~

So Cid just looks at him with a slightly arched brow.]

Our roles as Dominants mean little in this place, and I never really cared much for my little "title" to begin with. So using my name would be a preference, aye.

[...Nickname, whatever.]

And I doubt you want me shouting your princely heritage all over the place—unless that's what you actually fancy. So what'll it be?

[A nod back. Thankfully, Kotori is not the actively nosy type. (And look, those are all questions she's asking too; she just wouldn't have thought of the popcorn at first.)]

I think there's a stall near the the beach that's supposed to appraise them?

Pokémon... How curious. Are they akin to elementals? I have heard tell of such creatures changing the weather at their appearance.

[ That's Wizard stuff though, and Xenk's magic is pretty different from those kinds of things. Still, it is interesting to hear. And Xenk does love exposition.

He nods, always happy to help. ]

So it would seem. It is something to do with the magic of this world, though as for the specifics, it seemed a long-winded sort with all manner of embellishments that lead me to doubt the credibility of the tale.

Eh...?

[That is a very familier voice. It makes Izuku's stomach jump and he tries to peer over to see that brown hair.]

... Rody-kun?

[...! It really is Rody? Izuku hasn't seen him in a long time! Not since the mess he had to deal with in Otheon. They've occasionally texted here and there but that's about it...!]

Rody-kun! [He's hopping a bit on the spot and waving...!!] Y-You're here too...?

We also have dragons. But I haven't killed any.

[ At least, not yet.

They enter the tavern and Astarion picks a table for them out in a nice corner--somewhere quiet. He orders a glass of red wine and offers to pay for whatever Fenris is having. And then after that: ]

Places like this are common, where I'm from. I live in a city on the harbor called Baldur's Gate. There's lower and a higher city and a massive fortress between it and the rest of the wilderness. Wyrm's Crossing--named for the dragons, of course.

[ Pretty standard fantasy setting! Probably most of those words could describe Kirkwall also. ]

The population comes from all over. Elves--is that what they call people like us where you're from?-- [ he gestures to one of his pointy ears to....make his...point.... ] are just as common as any other race. We've humans and tieflings and dragonborn, half-orcs and halflings, dwarves and gnomes.

Oh no no no. Nothing like that.

[ He doesn't really need anything, no. G'raha fusses a bit with his bracers. His tail gives a little shy twitch at the tip. ]

I've questions, is all. Curiosity to satiate, if you will.

[It's a wave of his hand that grabs her attention again, pulling her focus back to catch him bothering those working in the room. With the slightest furrow to her brow, she steps inside to move up beside him with an idle curiosity of her own. She never was good with this sort of thing, but she would be lying if she said she never found it interesting. Never asked questions when he'd been working on things. Granted, it was never this advanced, but it was far more than anything she'd ever be able to dream up.

For once...

Benedikta will allow it, if only because she is listening, too. Trying to absorb as much information as she can about this place, because that is what she does. It's instinct.

But... She casts a sidelong glance at Cidolfus again.]

Never seen anything like this before, have you?

I was raised with manners, I will abide by your preferences.

[ Dion responds easily, but that's a strange question, asking for a quid pro quo. It's something that makes him hesitate, despite himself. Who calls him by his name?

Almost no one. His role, any of them, has always been preferable to everyone around him. Of course, none of it means anything here, does it? Appropriate, he can't help but think. ]

Call me what you like. [ That's not making a decision, nor is it an actual invitation. ]

And I can give you answers?

[????

Is it questions about himself??]

[ If you're beating yourself, isn't that just "self improvement?" Cloud would have thrown out the quip, but the girl is just - well an actual girl. It's like she has a lot of pent up energy. One moment she is talking and the next she is transforming. And then talking again while also trying to get closer to Cloud.

Which he's not entirely going to allow. No chance he's going to allow Nimona to get behind him to touch the giant sword resting in its holster at his back. Looks like there's space for more than one though. ]

Custom made. Not here. And just one.

[ Just Sephiroth. Again. ]

Good choice.

[ But he doesn't let him lag too far behind. They walked next to each other all the way out here so they can walk together back. It'll be a little bit before they get back to the inn, and the only part that he needs to lead for is the actual room.

Too bad they can't just teleport!! That would make this part--with all its anticipation--so much easier. ]

And I told you, that's not mine.

[With the way Eustace is glaring and his voice coming even colder, it's honestly not a surprise that Astarion might think he might actual turn into a wolf.

But he just sighs, that increasing chill easing a bit when Valo whimpers again. He was trying to not say anything, but...]

My dog found your pouch and picked it up.

[ Wonderful! Besides, if he's alive enough to be a Paladin, he's alive enough to be a friend :)

Truly, it's nice to talk to someone and just be understood. Much as Xenk has known his fair share of cynical types, there's something very soothing about speaking his mind and not getting rolled eyes. Why can't everyone be sincere all the time? Xenk smiles. ]

I much agree. I would be delighted to find myself in your company again, Sir Aziraphale.

[ 🤝 Same hat? Same hat. This would almost be romantic except it's them. They just really wanna hang out again. ]

[ Yes....see dogs and their tempers. He was of course right about this interaction! Either that or he already figured it out and just thinks this is hilarious--both are equally good motivators for him.

The actual dog here is whining again, though, and he's not sure why so he cautiously reaches out to give it a (sort of patronizing) head pat. Have a mentioned he's a cat? I mean a cat person. Cat person. ]

Good job, dog.

[ This is how you interact with dogs right? ]

[Another raised brow and a smirk. Dangerous words to say to a man like Cid. But he'll be a mature adult.]

Dion, then.

[Let's see how he thinks of that.]

[Before Jill can step away—]

How rude... You haven't even finished your ale.

[—a gust of wind cuts through the air. Though it is nothing as strong as her typical magicks, it is enough to hopefully stop her long enough for Benedikta to shove her own chair out from under her and step towards the other Dominant, swaying so that she's now in the way of her escape, trapping her between herself, the chair, and the table.

Her green eyes meet hers, sharp and steady, daring and challenging, those cracks in her walls having filled since she rose from her seat. Only the fires of her anger remains, her nerves struck, though she dare not let it show.

If she wants to pretend like she knows her, then she is more than ready to tango back.]

Do be careful what you wish for, Shiva. I am not the only one the gods saw fit to pluck from home.

[And perhaps she'll know that this is no empty threat. Benedikta's never are.]

Edited 2023-08-23 03:25 (UTC)

[ He isn't surprised at all, really, to see that Aerith won't be idle. For as long as he's known her - which isn't nearly long enough - she's always been a free spirit. Someone that will do what she wants to do. And there's a part of him that really does admire Aerith for it.

So when she raises her staff, his scoff is really more of a laugh. Something lighter as Cloud thinks "of course it's like this." ]

Yeah, guess so. Maybe I'll just take one or two and leave the rest to you then.

[ Which means he's stepping aside and just going to accept the help. As Aerith launches her attack, Cloud is dashing across the same path. Following up her attack with a slash or two of his own. ]

No way we're not finishing this.

Strangely?

[Tell the birb about your doggo struggles.]

Not even the Fallen have anything compared to this.

[He just glances at her with that same fascinated look and spark in his eye as he looks it over.]

And to think, this is fairly common. Every ship has a system like this, and those shellphones we were wondering about will be something similar, just small.

Can you imagine? All this—[A grand sweep of his arm.]—in a small device that could fit in your pocket! C'mon, lad, show her!

[He's suddenly pulling at a poor crow's wing to show Benedikta their shellphone. And though there's a squawk of surprise, the navigator will oblige.

"But it's not the exact same, y'know. These systems can do a lot more than what the phones can, but you'll want to keep yours on for long distance communication. No more pigeons or fishgrams for us!"]

[Finally, a bit of a nudge instead of trying to push Zack away. He can appreciate that and he finally hugs Cloud again (thanks to the red coral) and sighs.]

I'm glad you are too. M' glad you're okay.

[He isn't sure he wants to unpack what that means to him right this instant. But for now... This is alright. This is okay. Cloud is alive. Zack didn't fuck it up.

And that's enough for now.]

[ Yeah, that's weird. It's weird coming from Cid, it's just weird in general. ]

If that is what you wish...Cid.

[ No that is also strange and very familiar for the pair of them. He has not been Dion in a long time, to anyone except Terence. Even when his father said his name in the end, he was no longer seeing him as anything but a pawn to be moved into place. ]

In a way, perhaps they are. There are those that are Typed what would be the usual elements such as fire, water, grass- there are 18 known types, all in all. [By tone alone? This was something Turo enjoyed talking about as much as he enjoyed learning new things.] We also have pokémon that are more manifestations of concepts, such as time and space.

[~~Nerding happening.~~What wasn't to be enjoyed about speaking of such differences that sounded like key parts of another world? This was far more than Turo ever expected he would ever experience.

Still, this made a few things easier- or perhaps simply allowed a few details to not be worried about when it came to these 'tattoos' meant to unlock and grant magic abilities.]

Many stories do lead that way when it comes to some fantastical subjects, but there are often times seeds of truth that can be uncovered.

[ That's honestly fair, he may be over 100 years old but he certainly has his moments of naivete. ]

Of course, it is no trouble.

[ An immediate response. Xenk will never answer 'no' to this question. He sees that Fenris has a second map, and quickly focuses on the task at hand. ]

This is where we are now. [ He hovers a finger over the docks. It's labeled "docks" but he assumes Fenris can't make sense of the words. Illiteracy isn't particularly uncommon in Faerun either, so he makes no judgement. ] Therefore, we can orient the map like so.

[ He turns the map again, this time so that North is facing forward essentially. What's that thing about teaching a man to fish? ]

Is there anywhere in particular you wish to go in the city?

[He smiles in return. And he also helps Dion by getting down to help him scoop through the sand as well. If they're persistent they will uncover ... a chest!

And inside it will be two sets of things. Dion's armour and Joshua's gear. And magically out pops their weapons as well even if they don't look they would fit in a box. Out pops a lance and a longsword with a satisfying pop.]

... Fascinating and charming in a way, isn't it?

[ Fortunately, Alucard has no intention of being left behind, and if Astarion looks around for him he's liable to find a reassuring touch against his lower back - perhaps the former captain falls behind a pace just to have the excuse at least once. Unfortunately, he doesn't intend to let their walk be full of anticipatory silence. ]

Tell me more about yourself. Your world.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 61 of 190

« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

no subject

no subject

no subject

takes a sippy

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject