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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

[If she said any of the things in her heart to him now Zack would gladly accept them. All the hate and anger and sorrow that she might still have inside of her. Zack has never thought for a second that he deserves her forgiveness for anything that happened back in Nibelheim. All he could do was try and do right by all the shit that went wrong. Because he thought that she didn't make it out of that night either.

Seeing her there ... makes a complicated emotion tie up in his chest too.

He sits up with a painful wince.]

Yeah. Mostly. I think.

[His voice is quieter. Lack of the usual peppiness he might have in it. He's a worn-down man at this point. And confused to all hell about where he is.]

Where is this? A ... ship?

Edited (typos) 2023-08-22 15:17 (UTC)

[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.]

[Zack can't say he entirely remembers a bottle because of the circumstances he just woke up from. He thinks maybe there was a bottle. A lot of water and bubbles. And then a sun that was way too bright...]

Yeah. I think something like that happened to me too.

[But he's hesitant to tell her that just moments before hitting that wooden deck he'd been under a rainy sky and on death's door. Because he's still not sure if he's dead or something else right now.

He looks at her, unafraid but with some sort of conflict of his own.]

Guess we've both got a lot of questions...

Better to ask one of the crew than me, though...

[Is that her excuse to get out of answering them, and maybe making all of this super awkward? Maybe. So, instead, she'll focus on something else. Something that's been bothering her since she landed—]

Did you hurt anything when you fell?

[That's all for the best. As confusing as this is.

Zack nods and finally climbs to his feet so he's not just lying prone on the wooden deck anymore. He pats his chest and subconsciously checks for a bullet hole or two... But the action absolutely makes him wince and grab his right shoulder again.]

Damn it. I seriously think I dislocated my shoulder.

[Her head tilts, eyes watching him with a careful curiosity, but as soon as he winces, she reaches out to stop him from moving his left arm any further.]

Oh, jeeze...

[It's her turn to wince just a little bit because she's had to relocate a few shoulders in her day when doctors were too expensive to visit for something so simple.]

Here, let's find you a place to sit down and I... can help with that.

Yeah. Thanks, I'd appreciate that.

[He tries to be as careful as he can to get to his feet and he hobbles over to where there's a spot to sit. An old crate sitting there in the corner will have to do. He sits with another wince.]

Alright... If you think you can do it, do it before I chicken out.

[Fuck him up, Tifa.]

[She doesn't think she can do it, she knows that she can do it... but she doesn't reach for his shoulder immediately once he's seated on the crate. It's definitely been a while, and she looks him over first...]

I'm a little out of practice so you'll just have to—

[And that's all the warning he gets before she's suddenly reaching for his shoulder and snapping it right back into place, the sound of that CRACK resounding out across the deck of the ship, turning a few heads of those nearby.]

—trust me.

[One second Zack is glancing her way and about to nod. His arm is loose and he's not bracing for very much yet because he thinks he has a few seconds and-

CRACK.]

Aughhh!?

[THERE IT IS.]

[That hurts like hell--!! Zack yowls like a dog in pain but the moment that she snaps it back into place Zack feels a dull ache of awkward pain and ... relief.

He winces and wheezes out through his teeth and then holds his arm in place to keep it from jostling.]

Damn, Tifa... That's ... one hell of a trust exercise.

[But honestly, that's the best way to go about a fix like this and she did it perfectly.]

Thanks...

[She'll just give him a light pat on his other shoulder, a small, timid laugh leaving her. Several people have turned around to look on in surprise, but she pays them no mind.]

Does it feel better at least? Make sure you give it some stretches in a bit. Wouldn't want it to stiffen up again.

[When Zack does notice some people staring he does at least raise a hand to wave them off that he's fine.]

Yeah. I think that did the trick. I'll keep an eye on it. I owe you one.

[It still aches but he should be fine now. As for the rest of it... Well. He still somehow feels like he wants to talk to her. So at least owing her one is the least he can do.]

We can get you some ice for it after, if you want. I'm sure there's someone around here who's got some magic that could help, too.

[Right. That was also a thing that she needed to look into...

But for now...]

You don't owe me anything.

Yeah, that'd be great. Ice and a change of clothes.

[Zack winces a bit more but he doesn't complain more than that. He can handle a sore shoulder. That's kind of nothing compared to what he's been through before.]

But sure I do. If you need a hand, just shout.

[... It's the least he could do.]

Yeah... I will.

[With nothing else to focus on anymore, she suddenly feels awkward again, and so she'll glance around the ship, as if searching for someone who can do both of those things for them.]

Oh, um... make sure you check out the typewriter downstairs. There's a room with a line, and the piece of paper you get will tell you everything you need to know.

Oh. Okay, that's convenient.

[Zack has a shitload of questions so that will help. He stands with the ache in his body still present but he tries his best to shake it off.]

I guess I'll see you in a bit.

[When that will be, he hopes... soon. Because maybe they should talk when things are less... all of this. But he's not sure how to offer the olive branch for that. Just yet.]

It's good to see you, Tifa.

[It's an olive branch she isn't sure she's ready to take just yet either, so when he gives her an out...

...

She feels oddly relieved? And terrible for feeling that way. There is a lot to talk about, but Zack had been part of the problem that has haunted her all these years. Part of the problem that had ruined her whole life and forced her to start over. She can't say she blames him directly, but... there are some unresolved feelings that she knows are lingering in the space between them.

Perhaps soon, they'll be ready, but today is not that day.]

Yeah... you, too.

[She'd offer more, but... maybe it's better to leave it at that.]

See you again soon...!

[God, this is so awkward? She'll give him a wave, and... where is she even going to go? She'll just head down to her quarters for now, at least until this weird tension clears......]

[Zack lingers there for a second longer just to see her off. He doesn't reply after that but he does take that "see you again soon" to heart. It might have been a little awkward but he knows why it is. And honestly... He really hopes she'll give him a chance to have that "see you again soon" too.

He turns away and looks up at the sky. It's so cloudless and the sun is bright and warm on his face. He can feel the heat. He can feel that he's alive.

And he better start acting like it. Which means... making up for all the mistakes he knows he made.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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