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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

I wouldn't haven taken you for the squeamish sort.

[Of course, Zack is a stranger to him and he has little to go by but appearances, but he certainly looks like a soldier of some sort— quite clearly combat-able. Balthier does have his gun unholstered and in hand, but hasn't gone so far as to aim it at anything just yet, leaning against the rail of the deck with one hand to peer over the edge at the slugs in question.]

That said, I do agree that they hardly seem vicious. Unless they become aggressive, it would be a waste to put them down, yes?

['Befriending' might be a bit of a stretch, but he's curious.]

How do you propose we befriend them, hm?

[ Though Clive had only known the other prince for a short time, and seen very little of him on occasion in the past, the tone in his voice reflected his demeanor from their own star. Stiff as always, huh... ]

I see. [ He responded in his own manner of stiffness as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Clive had so many questions for him, but how responsive would he actually be? ] And the ship you were assigned to?

[ Might as well ask. One question at a time. ]

[Well, any tavern worth its salt will have regular bar fights— it's simply the way of things— but with so many new faces about, Balthier is certain that many of his fellow 'riftfarers' are unlikely to take such an event in such stride. He pauses in the middle of his own meal to move himself in front of the next table over, putting himself between the young lady seated there and the scene that's begun to break out.]

You may wish to leave in a hurry— these things are known to escalate, I'm afraid.

[He looks back at her over his shoulder, offering her a brief smile.]

Hardly what you expected when you sat down to dine, I assume.

Edited 2023-08-23 21:07 (UTC)

[ Very good. Everything is perfectly awkward. It kind of is, partly because Dion is a little awkward with everything having to do with this situation. He doesn't seem bothered by the question, however. ]

The Royal Fortune. [ Dion reported. ] I will guess that my intelligence is correct and you are also a Corsair. [ Unlike him. ]

[There's something that snaps inside of Benedikta. It's immediate, abrupt, and so jarring that she hadn't even remembered the thread being there in the first place. A thread—no, a chain that inextricably and eternally binds her to him. It takes the form of the pendant in her pocket, and she finds herself reaching for it, her fingers wrapping around it tight in an effort to quell the storm that tug had provoked.

Because for as strong as those bindings are, they also burn—they eat away at her with each moment she spends with him. Even now, as they've wandered the ship together, she thought about it. It was all she could think about. How, no matter how badly she wants to push him away and be fucking done with him forever, she cannot help it. Each time she tries to turn and walk away, her heart calls out to him and keeps her rooted where he is. In what she thought were her very last moments, the only thing it wished for... was him...

So when he is the one that pulls like that, it's both unexpected and gut-wrenching. The shackles of the fate that tie them together damage her because of all the times to say so...

Why now? Why here?

It feels as if he's taken everything that he's ever done, and all her hurt, all the betrayal that's bled black into her heart and spat it out back at her. As if all of those years without him where they spent fighting and arguing and hating one another meant absolutely nothing to him.

Her eyes had been downcast, but when she lifts them to meet his, whatever lightness in her expression—though it was very little—is gone, washing away to make room for that fire of rage he stoked. Almost like he knew...]

You would say that to me now? After everything?

[To ask her to be a part of something of his making... to accept her... As if that were never once an option?]

Edited 2023-08-23 21:23 (UTC)

[All Hu Tao could do was stare in awe. While she could briefly see the vision on his back, she paid no attention to it. Instead, she simply kept on clapping and giggling as she saw the cat popping out of nowhere and creating destruction in its path.]

Bravo, bravo! What a wonderful show that was! I didn't expect to see such an amazing performance here, oh Mister Pyro user!

[Memories flash through her eyes, and for a moment, if Zack looks closely, he might spot the flickers of those very same flames that burned that night in Nibelheim beneath the ruby cuts. She can feel her fingers start to shake, but she clenches them into a fist, willing that anger back down...

Stamping it out if only because she has other things she needs to worry about right now. And, no matter how angry or how hurt or upset she is, she would never leave a man to fend for himself.]

Yeah. The Royal Fortune, they said.

[Though, she does a poor job of masking it in her voice.]

No idea how I got here. One second, I was looking at a bottle, and the next...

[Her hand goes to her hip where the pain of her own landing still aches.]

[He knew his offer would spark that ire, especially because he is making himself more cavalier about it. Knows this would not be easy. And he knows it must seem strange to her given everything, as he said.

However...]

It's because of everything.

[He answers the same as he did before. The carefree attitude has hardened somewhat, his voice carrying the weight of things he could never say. He knows at some point they need to talk, to figure out what the hell is really between them now. Something he regretted a bit after her death. And in truth, he has many questions for her after seeing her end.

Was that really what she wanted?

Was there really nothing he could have done?

And he followed her not long after...

Yet here they are now, standing, alive and breathing however the hell that came to be. No Barnabas to get in their way. No roles they have to play.

She may still reject his hand, and she has a right to. He knows he hurt her as much as she hurt him, both betraying the other. And perhaps... He might finally move on himself. He can only keep that thin thread between them up for so long. But until then, he'll continue to be his stubborn self and try one more time to bring her back to him.]

Edited 2023-08-23 22:01 (UTC)

[She does tilt her head at his reassurance, curious. How is he not more freaked out about this? It doesn't matter because she's going to do what she can to keep her own emotions in check for now... There are a lot of people who are scared and alone and she would rather focus their efforts on them.]

I got the gist of it... Most of it, anyway, if you wanna know.

[She takes a step towards him—though only half, the way her foot resting back on the deck a touch more tentative than usual.]

Why don't we talk about it while we get you some better clothes, yeah?

[Why is the man looking at her!? Clearly, Red has proven enough that he is just like anyone else? He may not stand on both feet like all the other "animals" around here, but Tifa would argue he is far more intelligent and well-mannered than all of them put together.

So, she challenges the man at the door with her gaze, not saying a word besides letting her arms fold over her chest.

...

....

.....

Before he finally relents.

"Alright, fine. But if anything happens, it'll be on your head."

Tifa just rolls her eyes at him and beckons for Red to follow her, muttering under her breath as she walks past.]

So much for being neutral ground.

[OKAY GOOD, this guy seems nice.]

Y-yeah--EEK!

[That would be the lass ducking as a tankard flies over her head and across the bar.]

[ Well, if self-preservation gets him on the path to Goodness, Xenk will certainly not complain. A cache of magic weapons may be the kind of thing he would confiscate at home, but unless Jarlaxle admits to stealing those items, Xenk will trust his judgment on the matter. For now.

For now. ]

Indeed. We can discuss the matter of the items themselves once they are safely in your possession.

[ Xenk is quick to grab a shovel and toss it over his shoulder, ready to start digging as soon as he's instructed. Boy, it helps that he's got darkvision thanks to being cursed, huh! ]

My own items were stored together in a single wooden chest.

...Ah. So you still haven't met the others. Hope the place you met that bastard is still in one piece.

[Should be pretty obvious who "that bastard" is. Though he also noticed how Dion referred Jill. Interesting, she must have said the same thing or something similar to him.]

['Because of everything.'

Those words hit her just as hard as they had before. Why would he help her, after everything? Why would he want her, after everything? After he left her, after he betrayed her, after he left that hole in her heart that one has yet to fill? Why must it be because of that when it was him who made the choice to walk away?

Her heart twists around itself, and as she pushes herself away, that string pulls taut, so tight that it quivers and is about ready to snap at the slightest movement. She had been fine up until now—distraught, confused, exhausted, afraid, but she realized that she had needed someone who was willing to guide her until she could stand on her own two feet again.

That she needed him...

But the way that such a simple question and answer could shatter all of that so easily is just a reminder of how fragile this is... and why she had been prepared to let it all go.

Yet here she stands across from him, unable to move and unable to run.

It makes her furious that the thread is near indestructible, and as she squeezes that pendant tight in her pocket, she feels the blood trickle over her palm.]

What? Did you think that helping me would earn me back? That it would make up for it all!?

I was able to remain civil.

[ By some definition, and no, he doesn't need to clarify. He's very sure. ]

He wants to bury the hatchet, such as it were.

[ Astarion's words give him pause. It's true that his curse makes him closer to undead than not. It's an honest concern, one that Xenk himself has mulled over in his own mind for years. His Oath has guarded him from the worst of it, he's sure, but he hasn't faced the likes of Szass Tam himself, so who's to say what a powerful vampire with access to foul magic could do?

Moreover, Astarion just keeps being worried for his safety, which continues to prove that deep down, he's actually nice. So. Win-win. ]

Your concern is warranted. If his power lies in manipulation of the undead, then I must research the topic thoroughly. It avails me not to act recklessly, and endanger you further.

[ See, he's not totally stupid. ]

[He grits his teeth, his attention snapping back towards the bar after the tankard has flown past, just in time to see a fork also sailing their way.]

Tch!

[He scoffs, raising an arm to block it and change its trajectory, causing it to drop to the floor before he looks back at Kotori.]

Are you alright?

(I'm the same, I'll add you anyways XD)

[Well nothing wrong with being good at multitasking. Fjord'll figure out that stuffy and uptight thing soon enough surely. He might be a weedy loser, but he's an observant one.]

Well seagulls'll eat just about anything given a chance... not surprising these guys are worse.

[Oh hello sharkgull attacking his ally, aren't you nice and cozy there being flanked. Fjord is just going to take advantage of that and swing his falchion to slash into the creature's side. Unfortunately, either by luck or design, one of the other beasts lunged at almost the same time, sinking teeth into his other arm.]

Ow, shit!- [The angle is a bit awkward, the retaliatory swipe with his sword more glancing off the side of the sharkgull's muzzle than biting in this time.] Little bastard!

Edited 2023-08-23 22:58 (UTC)

[This is what she gets for trying to make friends with people, isn't it? With Corsairs, specifically?

So, when he utters his farewell to her, she only sighs at first—that one is for him—while giving Valo a smile when he looks at her before trotting off after Eustace.]

Goodnight...?

[As if she didn't think him brusque and abrasive before...

But she simply shrugs and heads in the other direction to the stairs because she doesn't need another awkward goodbye on top of that one.

At least she'll be gone long before he even leaves his room in the morning, only so that she can avoid bumping into him again.]

[He's not thrilled by this possibility. Luckily he doesn't know just yet.

Wait til he learns about the tattoos.

Fenris listens, this man seems to know something that he doesn't, but he still finds it hard to wrap his mind around. Not everything he says makes sense either. Aether? Was that the same essence that powered magic? That's kind of what he's getting from context.

It's not that he's dumb, just some of this is over his head. But what he does get though is--]

This is something that can be performed where you hail? This level of magics that can displace someone from one place to another? [This level of magic is shocking to Fenris, but the other seems less so.]

[He was prickly, but not unnecessarily, so yes, she is no longer in trouble.]

I see.. do you know of the side effects of these tattoos? I find myself wary to allow another to mark my skin unless absolutely necessary.

[She seems a very timid type. Admittedly, he's not the best at handling them.]

The last thing he needs is an enthralled paladin.

[ Astarion doesn't want to think about it, but he does. How torture could be taken to a whole other level with blades that flowed with the power of the very sun itself. How it would blind and sting and burn and Cazador would simply laugh.

Astarion blinks a couple times and shakes his head trying to clear it. He lies to himself and tells himself he's safe, here. At least for now.

When he speaks again, his tone is animated, glib. ]

This has been awful! You are terrible company, Xenk Yendar. Remind me never to bring you along in a party. You'd ruin all the fun.

Edited 2023-08-23 23:18 (UTC)

[ Xenk watches quietly as Toge moves in his apology, then carefully speaks. Were the boy's words were tied to his magic, then? Some kind of forced command spell? Or curse, perhaps. It's not unheard of for the vocal component of a spell to require a stern command. A bit on the nose, but Paladins can literally learn to do that too. ]

Indeed. Your words have no power, here.

[ That's such an intense thing to say but he's just saying it like he's stating the obvious. Because he does that quite a lot. ]

[ Oh the tattoos. That will be a time. Hopefully no bottles will be thrown around in the process.

For the most part, G'raha is rambling. He knows that he is. Yet he's doing so mostly just to voice his thoughts, to get things in order himself. There's a part of him that is still trying to make sense of it himself. From his own experiences, it's not so easy of a task. ]

Yes, but not to this extent and only once successfully. Even then, the intended target didn't quite land where they were supposed to.

[ The Scions had been pulled from the Source, but not whole. Their soul separated from their physical bodies. Even when he had managed to finally latch into the Warrior of Light, said target had found himself in the middle of Lakeland. Not even the Crystarium proper. ]

It is exceedingly complex.

Edited 2023-08-23 23:28 (UTC)

Where I was leaving before my.. undesired arrival here, I was also in a port city, Kirkwall. Your Balder's Gate does not sound entirely dissimilar to it. [Hightown, Lowtown, Darktown, all of that. There was a similarity there that he cannot deny.

Honestly, other than a few races he mentions being foreign to Fenris, much sounds not entirely dissimilar. Good, then this was someone from at least somewhat of a familiar place even if entirely unfamiliar.

How confusing.]

Elvhen or elves yes, [a nod] is what we would be called. Humans and dwarves are familiar to me and where I am from, though none of what else you speak of. Of the races, we have Qunari as well, though little else in terms of people.

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« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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wow my html got messed ;_;

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Renewing my spoiler warn + cw: torture

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