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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

[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.]

[ He really can't tell what's causing Zack to be so clingy. And he'd be trying to shove him off again, but there's something much more going on. Something deeper. It all ties back into some of the things that are going to be said at some point. Cloud doesn't understand why Zack had been trying so hard that day. But Cloud also knows that he owes everything to the man still latching onto him.

Instead of pushing Zack away, Cloud just kind of turns into it. Now he might not throw arms around the other, but it's enough it just. Tuck his head in, right? Zack will get what he's attempting to do. ]

Still working on the "okay" part. But that's thanks to you too.

[... The way that Cloud sort of awkwardly leans into him is both cute and amusing. If he wasn't feeling weird at the moment he might have teased the blond about it but right now he just lets out a short relieved sigh and lets himself sink against Cloud with is arms wrapped around him like a protective cocoon. Cloud doesn't even need to return the hug fully. He's fine.]

Yeah. That's enough for me.

[There's so much he could say about why he tried so hard. All the things he owed to people like Aerith and Tifa. All the mistakes he made. All the things he had to make up for. All the things he had promised he would be but couldn't make it. Why he spent years just trying to keep Cloud alive. It's a lot. Maybe he'll have enough in him to tell Cloud all those things someday.

For now... Zack finally dislodges himself but he keeps his hands on Cloud's shoulders.]

So, how about it. We figure out this other world stuff for a while?

[ It's all right. Cloud slips a hand to Zack's back. Gives a couple of pats. It's no full hug, but it's as close to one as any can get from the blonde most days. There are exceptions, of course, but they are kind of. Standing on a beach with a lot of other people around and Cloud is still introverted even after all of this time. Apparently he can pick up Zack's memories and some of his skills, but not his charismatic personality.

But he does realize that there's something else to this. So Cloud leaves it be. "That's enough for me" weighs heavy. And Cloud wants to ask what that means. Why he is so important to the taller man. But he bites his lip as Zack removes himself. Not completely, but now Cloud isn't suffocating from the proximity. ]

I already told you. Someone has to make sure you don't get yourself into trouble.

[ So yes. That's a yes, you dumb goofball. ]

If you're done chewing on coral, that is. Or maybe you should get yourself more for your bottomless pit of a stomach.

[Cloud can still stay the dorky little awkward blob that he is sometimes, it's never bothered Zack.]

Hey, they're the ones who needed someone to test out the product for some sort of medicine or potion or something.

[Zack grins again. With that bit of heaviness off his shoulders (for now) he does nod and then glances up the road.]

There's supposed to be some sort of tavern around here too, right? Wanna check it out?

Yeah? You don't see me just shoving a piece into my mouth without asking about it first.

[ Not that he really wants to change the way that Zack approaches the world. Far from it, really. ]

If it's supposed to go into something, then are they trying to measure side effects?

[ Because if so... Then what should it have done to Zack? That's more important than the question about the tavern. Cloud will come back to that but first thing's first. ]

[Does this mean they're not checking out the tavern yet? Boo.]

Yeah, that's exactly what I heard. Those coral pieces are supposed to do something to people so I'm guessing those paladins are researching what happens or something.

[Since a lot of the paladin researchers like to document these sorts of things.]

What better way to help out than going in full force?

[Which means shoving things in his mouth-]

[ They will. Just be patient for once in your life, Zack. ]

You mean jumping in without thinking. Because that's what you do.

[ Cloud sighs. Gives Zack a slight shove because they can't walk with both of Zack's hands on him. ]

What if it made you sick?

Give me a break!

[Wow he can be plenty patient!

Shoved away, Zack takes his steps back and grins.]

What's the worst that can happen? A bad belly ache?

And spoil you? Not happening.

[ If you give Zack an inch he is going to take a mile. And of course Cloud might let him get away with it to a point. But to a point.

Doesn't mean he won't try to be that grounding force for Zack though. Something to keep that kite from blowing away in the wind. ]

Why don't you turn around and look. See what it's doing to others.

What?!

[There it is again- That difference in Cloud. A sass he didn't know Cloud had. He used to be softer and so sweet and hang on to every word that Zack said.

He tries not to dwell too much and instead continues,]

The point of the job was we had to try them out for ourselves. I dunno, maybe that means they need a larger sample size.

[ Don't worry. Zack gets to bear witness to the first crack. Just the expression and the "what" is just. Cloud turns his face away. Hand covering his mouth a little as he tries to hide/suppress a grin. Doesn't do much to muffle his little scoff of a laugh though. ]

You... Really never change.

[ Not that Zack would have had the opportunity to. But despite everything, Zack's still Zack. The events between him becoming a First and then on the cliffside - doesn't seem to have worn away at that bright spirit within. ]

[Zack's body seems to change when he hears that slight muffled laugh. His shoulders straighten and his eyebrows go up. It's been a while since he's heard Cloud do anything like laugh. And it kind of makes Zack feel a way.

He grins in response, not afraid to hide his own pearly whites as he puts his hands on his hips. He kicks at the ground.]

Well, that's a good thing. I hope.

[Sure, he'll always be Zack. His spirit is probably the only thing he really has left. And sure, he's also a worn-down man who's been through so much shit despite all the effort he's tried to put forward to fix said shit, so. Being told he hasn't changed makes him feel good.]

[ When Cloud looks up, he's not surprising his smile. He's always had a softer, more subtle way of doing it. Not a smile that shows off his teeth or stretches his face. It's the sort that's more reflected in his eyes than anything else. But what he's giving Zack at the present moment is exactly that. ]

Yeah. Always has been.

[ Which has been one of the many things that Cloud had admired about Zack in return too. Even if he had teased him, at first, about being in a place with a funny name like Gongaga. ]

Anyway. Unless you want to stuff your face, we can go to that tavern you mentioned.

Edited 2023-08-26 18:43 (UTC)

[When he sees that smile it really just puts a piece of contentment back into Zack's chest. Despite how different Cloud seems now it seems that he's been able to make it. Whatever happened between the last time he saw Cloud and now... He managed. And that's all Zack had wanted at the time. He wanted Cloud to live. To go on. To find a smile.]

Really?

[Sweet, it's tavern time, baby! Zack grin turns wolfish and he pulls his arm around Cloud's shoulder again so they can walk like that. Thanks, residual red coral pieces.]

If I've gotta pick between more coral and some tasty tavern food, it's a no-brainer. Let's get some real food. I could eat an entire chocobo.

[ Wow. Someone's bounced back almost instantly. Fine. It's fine. That's just another facet of Zack's personality that's always drawn Cloud in. It's too easy to end up just going along with Zack's flow. Cloud even still has that small smile as he's rolling his eyes. ~~Is it really the coral that is making Zack touchy feely?~~

But there's no pushing him off this time. ]

Do you even have enough funds to be able to eat like that?

How much can a meal or two cost here? It's probably not bad.

[They did get some money when they first arrived. It's in dubloons or something so he has no idea if it's a good amount of coin or not but food is food.]

Zack. Your "meal or two" is the average person's five or six.

[ Hopefully the jobs that come up will pay enough. Honestly he has no idea how fast Zack actually burns through calories now. Is it the same? Will it be different here?

Is any of that even going to matter? ]

Listen, I can't help I'm a growing boy but I don't eat that much in one sitting?!

[He barks out a laugh. He sure does consume a lot of calories as a mako-enhanced SOLDIER and everything. But right now he just wants a normal meal. Or maybe like two.

And beer. That'd be nice.]

Just what part of you is growing?

[ The middle part? That's something that's never going to happen. Whatever the case, Cloud is going to start off back towards the town. Zack can lead them to where it is they are supposed to go.

And hey. There's no one to crash this little get together this time. ]

Don't forget I've seen you eat.

You can't tell me you're not hungry after the day we've had.

[Zack replies with an amused tone. But here they go off towards the boardwalk where the Minstrel and Cask tavern is.]

Never said I wasn't. I'm just trying to remember if it was supposed to be your treat or not.

[ CLOUD IT'S BEEN LIKE SIX YEARS!? ]

[Listen you little shit]

If we're doing that, then it better be your treat this time, man!

Are you sure? Because you're the one that asked me if I wanted to check it out with you, right?

[ Okay, it's just a bit bratty. He knows that and he wouldn't really take it this far. But it's just. Something of a relief to see Zack's expressions. ]

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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