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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

[ Alucard settles in beside the other man - or in front of him, as the case might be - with his shins just brushing up against the other set. He blinks when he sees the touch coming, but he doesn't move, allowing himself to be touched. His eyes half hood, the tenderness apparently having some sort of soothing effect. ]

I forgot it was there.

[ He admits. There'd been more pressing matters to attend to, and though Alucard was undoubtedly vain, he hadn't had the occasion to look into a mirror yet. ]

[ His fingers brush a little lower, grazing against the sapphire as if asking permission to continue. ]

Tell me about this.

[ Permission is tacitly granted by way of Alucard doing nothing to stop the touch. He might even be leaning into it a little. It's been a while since anyone has touched him like this. ]

There's a country called Faro where I'm from and it's the common practice of people there to set gems in their faces. You'll never meet a Faroan without at least one.

I did a fair bit of trading with them, made a few friends along the way. One of them offered to set it for me and I accepted. I like to think it makes me look debonair.

Edited 2023-08-26 01:05 (UTC)

It does make you look very handsome.

[ I mean there is a reason he wanted to fuck him. He has eyes. ]

It isn't magical?

Oh, is that what does it?

[ His own eyes narrow, playful. ]

It's only magical in the sense of how it's attached. The function is purely decorative.

Does that disappoint you?

No, I was simply curious.

[ he smooths his thumb along it and then pulls away.

And then a thought occurs to him. He leans forward, kisses his forehead and says gently: ]

Good night.

[ please go the fuck to sleep alucard he's so hungry ]

[ His features relax a bit in surprise at the kiss, but then there's a sigh of a smile. His uppermost arm shifts to drape over the other man's side, his hand finding the small of his bedmate's back to round an undeniably affectionate circle into with his thumb. Astarion, you fool, he thinks he's just been propositioned for cuddles. With her owner's hold gone, the cat takes the moment to slip out from between them, nimbly clambering over Alucard's side before disappearing off the edge of the bed. ]

Good night...

[ He murmurs, his gaze lingering just a moment longer on the elf's lips before, finally, he shuts his eyes. ]

[ For the sake of not being a complete hypocrite, Astarion does stay for a little while with Alucard. Alucard clearly wanted to cuddle and he shouldn't just offer and then deny him.

Okay, admittedly, that had exactly been his plan but then he felt bad about it! Being a nice person sucks!

So he stays in his hold for a while. It's a little awkward for him--he's never really done this with anyone before. But there is maybe something to be said about the weight of another's body pressed up against his own. The sound of Alucard's breathing almost reassuring.

Eventually it gets to be too much. It's this new, overwhelming sensation. But with his stealth bonuses he'll have no problem sliding free.

A couple hours of wandering around gives him time to steal a few choice ingredients from the kitchen to create something to mask his scent and it gives him time to hunt a bit. He finds a couple of rats--disgusting, vile things to eat, but at least it's better than nothing. Anything would be a boon in the face of the bloodloss from the mermaids.

Once he's satisfied he's not going to be so hungry that he might accidentally attack Alucard he wanders back to his room to check on him. Not that he's worried or anything!!!! ]

[ After all the fighting, swimming, and stressing, Alucard didn't need much time to drift off after he shut his eyes. Maybe he shouldn't have been so quick to fall asleep next to someone so morally dubious, much less cuddle up to them, but it felt like a good gamble to trust Astarion on the same day of saving his life. It's also felt like entirely too long since he was able to be intimate with anyone, to indulge in the comfort of another body after dealing with the cruelties of the world. It was worth a risk... or maybe he was just desperate.

When Astarion returns, he'll find Alucard much the same as he left him, curled on his side asleep. One arm curls up against his chest while the other is still sprawled across the empty patch of bed beside him, a place the elf had once filled. His side rises and falls with a steady tide of breathing, some of the strands of his long hair stirring before his face with it. In his sleep he looks younger, but also perhaps more troubled without that dazzling smile in place. He's also warm to the touch - not feverishly so, but enough it's attracted the cat to coil up against his back to soak it in. She stares up at Astarion, an unblinking, white sentinel that seems to be asking if he's just going to creep on her owner for the next however-long or what. ]

[ Something tugs at Astarion's heart to see Alucard's arm still positioned where he had been before, as if waiting for him to return. When had anyone ever wanted his presence that badly?

He tells himself it's not personal. That Alucard would have done this for anyone, and that it was about the mere fact of a body (warm or otherwise, as the case may be here) to cuddle up to.

But the stare from the cat is not making him feel any less guilty!! He gives her a "what do you want from me?" look but he knows. So he sighs and takes the time to take off his weapons belt, setting it down in a pile next to wherever his bow is, making sure he'll be comfortable. Then he slides his way back into bed under Alucard's arm.

So there, cat!! He's not just going to stand there staring at Alucard.

Much to even his own surprise, Astarion does eventually fall asleep. But here's the other problem of sleeping next to someone else he hadn't considered: when the nightmares come (and they always do) it's that much more obvious. The troubled expression, the shaking and trembling, the quiet noises of distress. It's like he'd said -- sometimes meditating was better. ]

[ They both seem to have mutually agreed on the story to tell themselves, that it could be anyone under Alucard's arm right now. That he wasn't coming to care for Astarion's company and his well-being in particular. But it's a tale that's a lot harder to tell when he's awoken to soft sounds of harrowed sleep and shaking in his hold. In that moment, he has to acknowledge that there is still so much he doesn't know about this man. What demons haunt someone who acts so irreverent, and are they the reason for that behavior? Or is it just the lingering trauma of nearly being drowned and eaten by sirens today? How does Alucard, who currently feels responsible for his protection, chase the nightmares off long enough for Astarion to get some rest?

He'll start by trying to rub the man's back, by strengthening his hold enough to stifle some of the trembling and offer a measure of security. But if there's no settling the man that way, he'll softly call the other's name to rouse him, because at that point it just seems like being broken out of the nightmare is preferable. ]

Edited (forgot I straight up have a cuddle icon) 2023-08-26 18:41 (UTC)

[ Unfortunately for Alucard, as kind as the idea behind the touch was, it backfires. Much like when Astarion had flinched away from him when he'd been tied up, it seems that his body's first instinct is to pull away, avoid the contact, get away--but it's enough that he startles himself awake.

He orients himself faster this time than when he'd woken up tied up, his eyes finding Alucard quickly and focusing, and the fear is replaced by and easy smile. ]

You're awake. And still here, I see.

[ Alucard doesn't try to stop the other from getting away, though he also knows Astarion can't go terribly far with a wall behind him. He doesn't have to see the fear to know that's what it is, but the fact that he does before the other man can put the mask into place feels like a hand tightening around his heart.

His gaze is focused in turn, but when the smile appears, he reflects it with a faint version of his own, indulgent. ]

It is my bed.

[ He points out. He dares to reach his hand out, to try resting it on Astarion's side - a silent offer of support and an invitation to return. ]

You were having a nightmare.

[ The expression remains for a moment with a touch of feigned confusion, like he might just play it off and pretend it didn't happen but then he sighs and lets the act fall. ]

Yes, well, you don't have to point it out.

[ He is perfectly ok pretending he's just fine, thanks!! ]

Well I thought we were trading obvious statements.

[ Is this comforting to you, Astarion? If he's a little mean? ]

But you're right. Terribly rude of me.

[ He's reminded of something Astarion himself said. ]

I won't press you.

[ The meanness might be fun at another time but unfortunately he's really bad at receiving his own energy back at him. He really is a cat, you see. But bristle though he might at the obvious statements comment, he relaxes when Alucard says he won't press him. He even goes so far as to use his words!!: ]

I appreciate the consideration.

[ Maybe, if Alucard hadn't led him on the first night and hadn't lost so much approval, he might have taken that appreciation and decided not to lie to him. He might not have told him the truth, but he wouldn't have lied.

Instead, for all he clearly doesn't mind Alucard's company, he still doesn't trust him. So he decides to lie. To act like they're closer, like he's giving him something here by "telling" him about the nightmares. But it isn't the truth at all. ]

It was just about the sirens. About drowning. I'm lucky you intervened. It seems my mind is all too willing to provide the details as if you hadn't.

[ It's a good lie considering it's what Alucard had already wondered about himself. And really, he's not as on his game as he could be, still weighed down somewhat by sleep and the bit of comfort in being close. So he just gives a soft grunt. ]

We'll be back at Eltrut soon. Perhaps some quality time on land will help. [ Then he adds with a quiet puff of breath. ] Or alcohol.

Yes, I imagine that will help. Besides, it's just a dream. I am [ he hesitates here. This lie is a hard one to tell. ] safe.

I'm sorry for waking you up. Were you able to get any sleep?

[ And it's one Alucard doesn't buy, but he's not going to call it out. He assumes its his own fault Astarion doesn't feel safe despite having saved him. If he were to promise not to hurt the man anymore, he'd be the liar, because he can't know that he won't. Astarion is letting him be close and that is a risk.

But he does wish he could give the man some reward for it, and so he'll rub his hand warmly across the other's ribs. ]

Don't be ridiculous.

[ Is the gentle chastisement to the apology. His eyes are a deeper blue in this moment, blinking slowly to indicate he's not that terribly far from falling back asleep. ]

The reason I've slept well at all is because of you.

Me?

[ There's a moment of genuine surprise, a gap in his otherwise well-crafted armor. At the thought he could help anyone do anything that required such a gentle touch.

But he's going to ruin the moment, because that's what he's best at: ]

Well don't get used to it! I don't fall into bed with just anyone on the first date.

[ The opportunity to make it even worse presents itself as a retort, but Alucard isn't trying to goad Astarion into fighting him anymore.

So he just gives another one of those slow blinks, a smug sort of smile crawling over his face. His voice deepens a shade. ]

Are we dating now?

[ this was supposed to be gay chicken!! Alucard was supposed to get flustered!! This wasn't supposed to be taken seriously ]

Darling, I don't think you could handle dating me.

[ Because he is a fucking mess. ]

[ This is gay chicken and Alucard Emery intends to win. The sapphire winks as he arches the brow. ]

Do you want to be handled, Astarion?

Not particularly. As I told you last time, I like having sex.

[ And Alucard likes getting to know people first, so see, how is that gonna work! ]

[ That's not... quite it, but Astarion could be excused for thinking as much. ]

Have you ever had sex with the same person on more than one occasion?

[ More than a one night stand, in other words. He's curious, not trying to imply anything... at least not yet. ]

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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