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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Zack raises an eyebrow and then lets out a laugh. Alright, he likes this guy. Even if this weird meeting is weird.]

Zack. We're aboard the Paladin's vessel the Royal Fortune.

[But maybe he should clarify.]

In another world. I woke up here a few days ago myself. But I fell from the sky and hit the deck and nearly broke my shoulder so I'd say you've got it ten times better.

[ Alucard just stares for a moment, storm blue eyes studying Zack with a new sort of intensity even if a ghost of his smile remains. Of course what the other says is impossible. That's not how magic works. People didn't cross between worlds accidentally, and those that did without being Antari... Well, actually, Alucard wasn't sure. He'd heard it'd always been bad.

But if Zack was a liar, he was even better than Alucard, which pride suggested to be just as impossible. ]

I've had worse.

[ His fingers of the one hand are creeping up into his hair, though, moving to grip at the roots. ]

How close are we to London?

[ In every world, from what he understands, that's always been a constant feature. ]

[He gets the expression, Zack had felt just as shocked to hear the situation. Maybe it would have been better to keep things light-hearted and sexy but honestly, other people coming in from the rifts deserve to know what's going on.

It's a good thing Zack is shit at lying. Yeah.]

Yeah. I haven't heard of a place called London, though. The big island is called Eltrut.

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

He needs to freak the fuck out.

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

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

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

[You know what, he was about to ask the guy if he wants his own bed after this whole situation but when he sees the guy flop down and look just worn the hell out Zack decides against it. Maybe he just needs to calm down right now. Zack decides to scoot over to give him a tad more room then he half sits up to pat Alucard reassuringly on the shoulder.]

From what I heard from the other people around here, yeah. I still don't really know what the hell I'm doing but I'm trying to make the best of it until I can figure that part out.

[He gives a sympathetic smile. Because yeah, he gets it. This is fucked up and Zack isn't supposed to be here. None of them are.]

I got my shit together, didn't make too much of a scene and I went to find people important to me. After that, well... I got something to drink.

[Booze helps.]

[ Beneath the uniform, Alucard is battered and bruised from the situation he recently came from. He is tired and this is awful; he deserves to wallow for a good couple seconds. It lasts about as long as it takes for Zack to pat him on the shoulder.

He gives one final, exasperated sigh into the mattress.

[ He rolls over onto his back, staring up at the other man with bleary, grey-blue eyes. ]

How did I get so lucky as to fall into bed with a reasonable man? This never happens...

[Zack can feel that in his own bones and core. It sure didn't help landing on a ship's wooden deck after almost dying. He's pretty sure he's still recovering from that, himself.

That's why he nods in return when he sees that tired look in the guy's eyes. Some self-wallowing is kind of part of the course too.]

Yeah? Well, guess that's one lucky thing about me. [He decides to rest back against the sheets and lets out a sigh of his own.] This is a lot, though. If you wanna talk sometime, I'm pretty good at listening once in a while. And I guess one more word of advice is to watch out for those birds with shark teeth.

[Yeah. That one is important. Okay.]

[ Birds with shark teeth... Well, that's nightmare fuel. Thank you.

Alucard gets the signal that he is to leave from the words. He was going to anyway, now that he's realized he's made a faux pas, but this will just speed it along. He comes up onto his hands and knees to look at the other man, siting back on his heels. ]

Well... I do apologize for the miscommunication. And I thank you for the understanding, Zack.

[ A rare bit of sincerity from Alucard, because Zack does seem on the level and in this moment, he's off guard. How refreshing it is to get the sense he doesn't need to walk on eggshells.

But where they began, Alucard can't just leave it at that. He throws a leg over Zack. He's only straddling the man's knees on the way to getting out of the bed, so it isn't too scandalous, but... He does sit down atop the aforementioned knees. ]

You ought to be careful what you offer to strangers. They just might take you up on it.

[ Alucard gives a little smirk, though it's probably not so smooth to a man who just saw him groaning into the mattress (in an unpleasant way) a moment ago. He swings his leg off and totters off the bed, though makes a steadier pace towards the door. ]

Or they'll owe you a drink some time. I suppose we'll see.

[ Alucard makes to open the door and step out. Honestly, he's kind of eager to be rid of the embarrassment. He also may or may not need a moment to go have a moment about the gravity of all of this. ]

[You're welcome for the nightmare fuel, Alucard.

As the other man starts to take his leave, only pausing for a moment to half sit on Zack, Zack watches with a small spark of interest in his blue eyes. It surprises him again- thinking that he's probably more lonely than he would like to let himself believe. But hey... months and months of running and hiding from people who want to kill you- any guy would want a little. And even a moment of cheekiness from someone who practically fell in his lap and whom he was having a decent conversation with makes him double take.]

I guess I like to live dangerously.

[There's a small smirk on Zack's lips but he gets it when the man finally climbs off of him and the bed. He lays back with his arms behind his head and lets out a short sigh.]

Don't go thinking I'll forget the tab.

[With the door clicking shut Zack just tries to let all of that sink in. What a world this is going to be.]

« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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