escordvi | « test sail »

Entry tags:

« test sail »

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

[Well, that was easier than even expected. He stifled a fit of laughter at Zack's enthusiastic reaction. No sense in showing his hand just yet, but this whole teasing the ex-SOLDIER was too easy. He grinned. Challenge accepted.]

'Bout time, yo. You better be useful out there, Fair. I don't want to have to hold your hand now because you couldn't keep up, yanno.

[Reno kicked a bucket with his foot, slinging it upwards with the handle, and caught it mid-air. He turned around to see how close they were to the slugs now and, deeming it good enough, he hoped up as well.]

Maybe I should give you a head start just in case though.

[Now Reno is just showing off. Zack lets out a bark of annoyed laughter and grins at the other.]

Oh yeah? Who knew that a Turk could swim anyway, I thought you guys were all rocks at the bottom of a bucket.

[They both know that's not true, Turks are worth everything they've got. But Zack can't help at least try to gripe back at Reno.]

But hey, if you wanna give me a head start by all means. Just don't cry to me when I win.

[He then jumps into the water!! And the sea slugs bob around gently like they're not even bothered. Yet.]

[Reno scoffed at the attempt to dismiss the Turks's true worth. Don't test him, Fair!

It was a good thing he knew the SOLDIER was kidding because that sort of remark would get Reno all upset coming from anyone else. Nobody dissed the Turks on Reno's watch.]

You won't be winning today, Fair. Just try to keep up.

[Reno lingers just a little longer on the ship. Not unlike a cat staring out into the rain while hiding under a tin rooftop when the cat actually needs to be on the other side of the street. Zack got his head start.

But it wasn't too long before the Turk hopped down, too. After all, he had to keep his promise to win. Now, how to go about this the best way...]

[Zack has a proper respect for Tseng and his boys. Even after everything that went down he still thinks so. As much as Reno can be annoying, Zack knows and understands his worth.]

Hah!

[Well, it's time to do some work. That means using the buckets they were given to scoop some of the slim that the sea slugs are giving off as they boop around in the water. It's ... kind of gross. Honestly.

But Zack is used to dirty work so he starts scooping.]

Never thought this kind of thing would be in the job description, did you?

[Vaguely, Reno wondered if what would be the best way to get the slugs to produce more of the slime they were after. The usual way seemed to be killing them and scooping up what was available from the fight. But what if scaring the creatures would produce more? Hmm.

He moved as he thought, humming softly under his breath as he heard Zack speak up, and then answered as he kept going at it.]

Hey, a Turk will do anything for the cause. [a beat] 'Slime scooper', however, is a little more specific and a little less glamorous than I would have ever considered, yeah.

Animal parts [and specific animals] I've hunted down before. But this...yeah, I could do without this job.

[And yet he kept at it, starting to pick up pace as he got the hang of it.]

[Reno might be on to something with that line of thinking. If the quest was to kill these things maybe scaring them or killing them would produce more slime, it's hard to tell!

One of the smaller baby sea slugs seems to squeak away from Zack's hand when he gets too close and it spits out a glob of slime.]

Well, there's a first time for everything. It could be worse, we could be shovelling behemoth droppings or something.

Ugh. Have you ever seen a behemoth dropping? [Reno made another disgusted noise, almost sounding like he was genuinely trying not to gag this time around.] Yeah, I'll take the slime any day over that.

[Reno gets that idea again.]

Man, what I wouldn't give for some magic right about now. Any idea why that doesn't work here?

[He'd figure that out later, of course, but for now...he wished he could produce a bolt of lightning out of thin air. It would be useful right about now.]

[Zack begrudgingly starts to scoop more of the slime into the bucket.]

Yeah, man. Luckily I wasn't the poor bastard who had to shovel the shit but... I felt really bad for him.

[First Class Perks- though.]

But someone told me to grab a tattoo over at the octopus shop on shore. Apparently, that'll make our materia work again? I haven't gotten over there yet.

Oh yeah?

[Reno's ears perk up at that.]

A tattoo parlor, huh? Well, I'd like to see it working again so that sounds like a place to check out.

[In the meantime, they'll have to make do. Reno pauses for a moment and then,]

Hey, get ready. [He makes a gesture with his hand, pointing at Zack in a repeated motion, indicating he's gonna herd the slugs towards the ex-SOLDIER.

Which he does, by scaring the slime out of them and forcing them to head towards Zack or face the scary redhead cackling like a lunatic and waving his baton threateningly at the poor creatures.]

[He's honestly mildly curious what Reno might get as a tattoo but first?

Slug wrangling.]

Okay, okay. I'm reading you. Bring it on!

[And Zack is going to be ready with his bucket. The moment that Reno scares the poor things with his ugly mug they come swarming for Zack with a huge trail of slime along with it. Because it's so much... Zack sort of screams a little as he gets swarmed by them. A whole pile of them barrel him over and, he too, is covered in slime...]

Augh...?! The hell?

[Really, he was going to help after the slugs ran their gambit and the slime was left for the picking. But there were so many frightened, and Zack's scream was just so priceless--he couldn't help himself, he nearly fell over laughing at the entire sight.]

Y-you... [He was wheezing too hard to continue whatever it was he was going to say. He collapsed into another fit of giggles as he took in the full sight of Zack now covered in slug slime. His knee was going to bruise at this rate from his own slapping as he bent over from laughter.]

You... you scream like a little girl, yo.

[He finally managed to get out between deep breathes and fits of smaller giggles. He began to casually walk towards Zack, wondering whether it'd be worth it really to help the ex-SOLDIER or simply start scooping up slime. He'd probably get less on him if he just ignored Zack's plight.]

Yeah, yeah! And who's fault is that?

[He's not going to take that lying down. He scoops up a huge gob of newly farted-out slug slime and he chucks it right at Reno's head. Splat. That's what you get!!

Look, nothing says that two fully grown men can't be idiots.]

[He grinned.] Yeah. I'll take that as a compliment.

[What did you really expect? For him to be insulted for causing little boys to scream like a girl? That's not an insult!

Of course, he doesn't get long to gloat. Too busy stifling more laughter, Reno doesn't stand a chance against the onslaught. The glob of slime lands right in Reno's face...and hair. The Turk freaked out.]

Hey! My hair! What the fuck, Fair? You asshole!

[All right, fine! Two can play at this game. Reno dashed forward, scooping up some slime as he went, and chunked a glob at Zack.]

That's what you get for sending those bugs after me? Play stupid games- Hey?!

[Oh shit, Reno is coming at him. And there's one thing Reno's always had over him. Reno's fast. Zack is more of the big and brawn kind of guy. Reno's lanky and fast as hell.

Zack does duck down to dodge, dropping his slime bucket to get out of the slime's trajectory.]

You're the one that screamed because you couldn't handle a few slimy slugs!

[He gave ample warning! Zack even said 'bring it on'! How was it his fault!?

He sneered as he saw Zack duck beneath the first throw's trajectory. But Reno didn't stop just because his first attack was thwarted. He circled around and then suddenly headed straight for Zack--and tackled him down into the remains of the slime left behind from the stampede.]

Augh?!!?

[And down hard Zack goes! His back collides with the slime and he lets out an impressive howl as he's pretty much covered with slime.

But he's not letting Reno get away that easily. He grabs the redhead and pulls him into a headlock to keep him right there, nose almost in the slime.]

Say uncle!!

[Reno's lanky ass can't handle Zack's brawn, right!!]

F-fu..!

[Reno sputtered as he was pulled into a headlock and dipped towards the slime. His efforts to squirm free had him practically eating the stuff and he tried to spit it back out.

He wasn't sure if he could have called 'uncle' if he had wanted--which he didn't. Instead, he attempted to get an angle on Zack's weight so he could use tricky methods to escape. Because he certainly wasn't a match for Zack's strength!

...he wasn't having a hard time of it.]

[And so the two of them will wrestle like a bunch of idiots for a good few minutes. Zack keeps Reno fully head locked in his bicep until he's fully satisfied enough to let go of the redhead and lets him roll off.]

Give it up, Reno. Let's get out of here.

[They were supposed to get a job done.]

Fuck.

[He intoned while sitting in the slime-y muck left from their wrestling. He slung a glop of slime from his hands and made a face, only to wince and spit and attempt to wipe his face off. It was a lost endeavor. His hair was an even worse mess and he was not pleased. He didn't look forward to getting clean.

Wait, scratch that, he couldn't wait to get clean. He just didn't look forward to seeing the ugly mess that came off.

He spit one more time in Zack's direction.]

Yeah, yeah. You lose all the buckets?

I think we've got enough to at least call this a day.

[He's covered in muck too and would really love a shower. But. The work's done. Mostly.

With that, they'll pick up whatever they collected and hand it in.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

« test sail »

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

YO! (Ho?)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

🎀 wrapping this one up!