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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

[What an adorable kid. Zack can't help but grin at that energy. So, off he goes to jump into the water as well with his own bucket in hand.]

Oh, yeah! Here we come!

[Sploosh! The water is cold but it doesn't bother Zack all that much. Just ahead the giant sea slugs are bobbing around in the water like a bunch of sea guppies. They don't seem that pressed that they're here so Zack swims closer to start scooping up some of the slime that secrets off them into the water.]

Okay, this is about as weird as I thought it'd be.

[Scooping up slime...]

[ Oh Zack, if only you knew that she's much older than probably a lot of people here. Still, it's always nice that someone's willing to compete with her. ]

Don't think of this as weird, just consider it like getting milk from an animal!

[ This is hardly the weirdest thing Nimona has ever done, maybe the slimiest, though. She's over here sweeping her tail to scoop up the slime to drop into the bucket. ]

[Listen, she's smaller than him therefore Zack is going to aggressively adopt her as a small.

He snorts out a laugh.]

That doesn't sound any less weird. Come on.

[But he's going back to scooping up the slime while trying not to think about milking animals.]

You've got an advantage with that tail, though.

[ That is... technically true, since the form Nimona picks is a shorty. ]

Okay, maybe collecting slime from a slug is a new one, but you've had to have put your hands in something equally gross before.

[ Nimona, this is definitely not helping. Not everyone wants to think about it. ]

Guess you'll have to bring a shovel to our rematch after I kick your ass this time.

[ Trash talking in this competition! ]

[Zack barks out another laugh.]

Alright, you've got me there! Behemoths are a messy job too!

[He's scooping more slime into the bucket with his hands. Ugh.]

But it's not over yet, you better keep your head up if you think you can beat me, kid.

[So he's scooping... Faster. Ora Ora Ora!]

[ This is the start of a great friendship, surely. ]

Oooo, you have to tell me the story!

[ At least Zack now knows someone who's willing to do the icky jobs with him on the ship. There's just too much excitement over it. ]

This is the newbie level of competition with me, "old man".

[ They aren't going to leave any slime at all at the rate they're going at. ]

Hey, who the hell are you calling old man?

[Dude, he's only twenty three?? Is he old in anime years? Probably?? But don't point it out!]

Keep up with that and I won't tell you any stories about meteor-hucking behemoths.

You started it by calling me a kid! I could be like ninety, for all you know.

[ She says it playfully, but ninety is a long way off from the thousand that she actually is.

This is Nimona's way of testing the water, because the last time someone found out how old she really was... it didn't go well. ]

Aw, noooo. I'll be good, I promise!

You're shaped like a kid! How old are you really?

[Does he dare even ask?

The slugs are starting to wiggle and play in the water. Seems they're pretty happy to just float around like jellybeans in the water as they scoop and scoop.

At least the job is almost done.]

I'm shaped like a beaver!

[ There is silence at his question. Maybe she doesn't want to answer.

Or... ]

Lost count. But definitely older than ninety.

[ Or she can sort of lie about it. Only in the sense that Nimona isn't dropping an approximate age. ]

[...]

Har har. Very funny. What's your real age?

[He doesn't believe her.]

[ ...

Nimona transforms from the otter to a shark, catching the bucket with one of those sharp teeth. ]

Around a thousand - give or take a decade.

[ She swims closer to him. ]

I'm all done~

[He tries to scoop one some more but the little baby sea slugs seem to fart and squeak when he puts his hands too close so he's ... losing a battle here.]

What?!

[Game's over!]

You're a girl that can turn into animals and you're over a thousand? Now I've heard everything. ... Nope, you're still a kid in my book.

[He grins.]

Yeah, looks like you won this one. I owe you a burger or something.

[ Nimona laughs when the slug farts, because that's hilarious. Seriously, get this girl to do some of the gross jobs. ]

Yeeeep! [ She pops the 'p'. ] I just... don't really get old and die. Or come across anything that can kill me yet.

[ The pink shark swims up beside him, guess who gets a free ride to solid ground. ]

Hm, will I still be a kid if I turn into you or someone older?

[ Does this mean she gets to call him an old man still? ]

Oh yeah, a burger! And fries. Does this place even serve that kind of food? It seems so... ancient.

[Thanks for the free ride, kiddo.]

Let's not go that far, okay? You're a shark right now.

[Please don't turn into an old lady, his brain can't handle that.]

Let's wrap things up here. I have no idea if they've got burgers here but they've gotta have some good food. Let's go.

[Time to get back to someplace dry! All done!]

[ Any time, old man! ]

Finally! Someone gets it. I am a shark.

[ And not a lady or girl at the moment.

Dry land ahoy! Turn in those slime buckets and yes, Nimona does do it while a shark still. Then food! ]

[All in a day's work! They'll get some nice coin for their hard work and then it's back to shore they go. It's time to explore Eltrut some more.]

« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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