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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

[And he is grating on hers, a very rare occurrence for Tifa Lockhart. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and heard him out completely if he would stop snapping at her and actually talked to her like a real person rather than an enemy, but if that's what he wants, then—]

Fine.

[So she doesn't say anything as she continues to walk with him...

...

....

Because they are heading in the exact same direction.

Well, this is awkward.]

[...

....

..................

Fuck she's going back to the inn isn't she—

Realizing this, Eustace is going to take the FIRST ROAD LEFT to go anywhere that's not around her.]

[Tifa actually stops when he turns left, even though she knows that the inn is to the right, and she stares at him in subtle disbelief over her shoulder.

Is this guy for real?

She knows that you know the way, Eustace, and it's late. Where else would you even be going at this hour!?

After a moment of watching him, the sharpness in her expression fades to weariness and she just sighs and turns right to go back to the inn...]

[HE CAN GO WHEREVER HE WANTS AND honestly it's probably for the best that he lets Valo do his business before going in. Which he can do anywhere not around her.

He will set Valo down so he can walk, and while Valo whines and looks back towards Tifa, Eustace will just tug on the leash to lead him away.

Maybe once his own head has cooled he'll consider...apologizing for some things. But for now, he knows if he lingered any longer that would not happen whatsoever.

Thus for the rest of the evening and next morning, the two will continue on their separate ways. Whether Tifa tries to seek him out or not, Eustace makes no such endeavor. However, in his case it's not necessarily deliberate. He had taken up some of the tasks from the MANTA board, and after ensuring that Valo would be safe and content in the room until his return, Eustace set out in his usual gear.

A few tasks were simple...if strange (why are there sharkgulls, gods). But then came the call about the sirens. He's quick to join a boat heading out there, and upon reaching the site he wastes no time in setting to the work. He also looks at the earplugs handed to him, wondering if he should use them... But given his sensitive hearing, better to be safe. He'd still be able to catch the sounds muffled and and feel the vibrations of anything that might try to get at him, but with his ability to wield lightning and electricity, that's unlikely.

For now, he'll look for the victims, dragging one that was half in the water out of it.]

[Yep. For the best that they went their separate ways. Even Tifa, who can usually take things a little easier, finds herself short on her reserves of patience. Their first meeting hadn't been so bad, nor was their second at the inn, but there was something about him that rubbed her the wrong way tonight. Perhaps she had some part to play in it with her having already dealt with one too many drunk ruffians that night to put up with an attitude like that... and maybe she'll apologize for jumping to conclusions later...

But for now, she's content to go back to the inn and do exactly what she had been planning to do.

And in the morning, rather than spend more time on Eltrut, she decides to take up a job on the MANTA board. She'd missed the first boat out there, but there was a second for reinforcements that came not long after to take them to the island the missing sailors were rumoured to be marooned on.

She walks along the beach, the earplugs in her ears out of caution, and her eyes scan the shore for any sign of life—sailor or siren—that she doesn't notice Eustace up ahead dragging out a victim from the water, nor does she notice the siren that's swimming along the shallow shore near her, keeping a few feet back...]

[Eustace was trying to rouse the victim, but it was to no avail. Not even a quick slap could get them to stop muttering love addled nonsense. Unfortunately he didn't have any potions on him, but since the man wasn't resisting it was easier for him to drag him further out to carry him back to the safe point...

But it's at that point that he looks up and sees Tifa. There's a clear flash of annoyance in his expression, one she'd be able to see from the distance between them. But then there's something else that flickers in his gaze, something more serious...and cold?

Dropping the man, his hand goes to weapon at his side, pulling out the rifle and aiming it right at her.]

[She sees the movement up ahead, and steel catching in the sunlight—it draws her wary gaze from the shore and towards it, only to find...]

HEY! What the—!?

[WHY IS EUSTACE DRAWING A GUN ON HER!? She knows they got off on the wrong foot, but to point his rifle at her? That's overstepping a ton of lines, and she practically shrieks at him in a panic—]

Put it DOWN!

[Ignoring her shrieks, there's only the sharp crack of lightning as he pulls the trigger, releasing the blast that will whizz right past her.

It's close.

So close that if she moved even a step in its direction she would have been hit.

But it also happens so fast, in the blink of an eye, that the only thing that happens next is the sound of the siren shrieking and writhing in pain before Eustace sets up for the next shot.

That is, unless Tifa notices, which he's actually banking on.]

[It's so close that she can practically feel the heat of the gunshot as it flies past her, only inches from where she stands on her guard. She's fast, but not fast enough to dodge a bullet, let alone react quick enough when she hears that crack of lightning around the rifle. All she can do is shield herself with her arms, hoping that maybe her gauntlets can catch it...

But then the shot lands next to her, and she hears an unworldly shriek echo through the air and shake her through the earplugs. Whirling around, she sees a siren on the shore, squirming and writhing in pain.

... Ah.]

A little warning would've been—

[Except she sees that he has another shot coming and she leaps out of the way before he fires so she doesn't get nearly clipped by the next one.]

[He fires immediately after she clears the way, another burst of lightning that will sear into the siren. It will convulse before it finally stills, its body blackened and smoke rising from its remains. Seeing this, Eustace will straighten and holster his weapon before looking at Tifa.

...]

Stay on guard.

[AND THEN HE JUST TURNS RIGHT BACK AROUND TO PICK UP THE GUY HE WAS DEALING WITH BEFORE, slinging him over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.]

Huh—?

[Tifa looks to the siren as her wails fade to nothing, then back to Eustace as he's already hoisting the sailor over his shoulder... What in the world just happened? Her mind is spinning, and it takes her a moment—several, actually—to fully register the sequence of events that just unfolded.

...

Before she rushes over to Eustace.]

Th-thanks... [She starts, because she will at least give him that.] ... but next time, a shout to let someone know you're not shooting them would do just fine!

If I shouted, the siren would have noticed and taken cover.

[And that's all he says as he continues to walk.]

[Well, he has a point, but still... You shouldn't just point guns at people and shoot so close like that. One misstep and that could have ended very differently.

And now things are awkward again as he continues to walk with the sailor... Which is at least something that Tifa can focus on rather than the terrible churning of her stomach at being stuck on a faraway island with him, of all people, and not another person within range to help make this un-awkward.]

Is there... anything I can do to help...? He wasn't the only one, was he?

[Meanwhile, Eustace has the confidence and skill to never worry, misstep or not, so it's all practically behind him as just continues forward.]

He was the only one I found, but I'll go back once I drop him off at the safe point. If you have the potion, you can give it to him there.

I have a few.

[She gives the pocket of her new, borrowed coat a tap, and there's a light clink of the vials inside. Though, she's not sure if it'll be enough given the scale of the job, from what she's heard...

Whatever the case, she's going to keep up with him, looking at the man draped over his shoulder as they move, easily forgetting in the moment that things are... still a bit tense...]

And what about the sirens? Besides the one... there's gotta be way more of them?

Of course.

[He's just going to give Tifa a look that suggests she just asked the dumbest question—]

[Well, it's a fair question? Maybe he took care of them before she got there? She doesn't know...! But she sees that look and frowns at him before continuing to follow along with a huff.]

Is it true what they say about sirens? That they only affect men?

[....Hm.

This time he contemplates.]

As far as I am aware of, that is what I've heard. But it's said they draw on their target's desires, so I wouldn't put it past them to try and lure women as well if they are hungry enough. Even without, they are deadly in the water, so stay on land.

[Well, she's just going to hope that the sirens have had their fill with the sailors they've captured...]

What about luring them out of the water?

Edited 2023-08-27 02:57 (UTC)

[Wow, way to give those poor victims a death sentence!!!]

It's possible. However, they wouldn't make it easy, knowing their weakness would be on land.

[Wow, what!? The whole reason they are here is to save the poor sailors!!!]

But if they're really that desperate for something, then... would they come all the way out to land to get it anyway? If no one is answering their calls, then they've gotta find some way to get it...?

[She doesn't know a lot about how sirens work, but that's the gist of it, right?]

Or at least close enough to shore that we can do something about them. Not really doing much with them swimming around in the water, are we?

["Had their fill" implying eaten!??!]

I can instantly electrocute them even if they're in the water.

[As shown with his gun. However—]

But it's only if they are contained in a spot, so we'd still need to lure and contain them somehow.

[And now he's just going to eye her.]

If you have an idea, just say it.

[...

It might not be the best idea—far from it, but she can't think of many others to get them contained. And, if they don't take care of the siren problem, this is just going to keep happening, isn't it? So...]

We lure them out. With the sailors. Just far enough that we can group them together and hit them all at once. I know it's risky, but... otherwise they'll just keep coming back. And so will we.

[He looks at her strangely.]

You want to use the sailors as bait? Put them in more harm's way?

[He's not necessarily rebuking her... In a way it makes sense, and if they have no other option then also no choice. However, to hear it from her of all people seems...strange.]

[She shrinks back under that look he gives her because yes, even she can't believe she's suggesting it. She hates bringing other people into the fold, hates that others have been caught in her crosshairs before...]

Well, when you put it that way...

[But she corrects herself rather quickly because again, she reminds herself that they are so low on options right now that it might be the best and most efficient way.]

Is it really putting them there if we're around to watch over them?

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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