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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

[ It's too late now, Astarion!!!!! That's hero shit! Xenk's eyes go wide. ]

You need not be so modest! You fought an Avatar of Myrkul? Dread god of death and bones? That is no small feat, my friend.

[ I don't remember what Myrkul was specifically but it's definitely not murder or pain right. Just bear with me here. ]

No, I suppose it wasn't! We really are on quite the adventure, aren't we? Unfortunately there are yet two more of the Dead Three's chosen standing between us and the elder brain they're trying to control, so we may end up dead and buried before we ever see the end of the quest.

[ And then, there's the whole thing about his personal quest, still yet unfinished. ]

It certainly isn't what I expected when this all started.

You have been beset by peril upon peril. Mind flayers would make for a dangerous enough tale on their own. Adding the Dead Three, and a shadow curse besides... Would that I were able to assist you. But it sounds as though your allies have been just and swift. I am glad.

[ Damn, two more left, huh... If only Xenk could be there, he'd love to fight some death gods. And realistically it sounds like Astarion's party already has many warriors, so he wouldn't even need to worry about outshining anyone! ]

Most great legends begin with modest origins. Yours will be no different.

A "great legend"? I like the sound of that. It has a lovely ring to it.

[ They have arrived at "The Dragon's Milk," which as promised has a great spot to look at the water from and also a full menu of fancy boba milk tea. Don't even try asking Astarion what boba is, he definitely doesn't know. ]

Here we are. I'll find us somewhere to sit, come join me once you've ordered.

[ It's kind of a relief to not have to pretend?? Like they can just be two weird undead guys together and understand each others' weird needs.

[ Xenk smiles. With that much stuff, there's no way people don't make legends about them. Astarion deserves a starring role, at least as far as Xenk is concerned. It's an amazing list of achievements for anyone, never mind a vampire spawn who's tasted freedom for the first time.

But just as he's about to launch into a very honest spiel of compliments, they arrive at their destination. Yeah, Xenk has never heard of boba either. He is not going to try any of that weird stuff -- why would you put sweet things in tea, anyway? ]

My thanks. I will join you shortly.

[ It is nice to just be himself around Astarion. He certainly doesn't mind the company, and this place has a much calmer ambiance than the tavern had been. Xenk follows the signs to the front, where he makes his order. Some kind of herbal tea, and nothing else. The salesperson tries to upsell him some boba, but the sheer amount of ingredients proves a little overwhelming for him, so he just goes for the tea. Luckily the salesperson was also hitting on him (unbeknownst to Xenk) so they don't seem too disappointed at their missed sale.

Xenk finds Astarion only moments later, a tea kettle and cup in hand. ]

I apologize for the delay. They attempted to sell me a "boba tea."

I take it you decided not to try.

[ What a shame!! you gotta try new things, Xenk. ]

There were too many options. I will need more time to decide, next time.

[ But he doesn't totally write it off... He understands that Astarion can't try these things at all, so it isn't something to take for granted. He just didn't want to stand there and keep Astarion waiting.

But right now, he's happy with his herbal tea. He takes a seat across from Astarion and pours some into his cup, letting it cool. It smells great, though. He could probably drink it this hot, but it'd burn his mouth and then he'd have to wait for it to heal. So he'll wait. ]

I would not have thought to patronize this place without your invitation. Thank you for showing me.

Edited (he's very polite) 2023-08-29 07:58 (UTC)

You don't have to thank me. I'm sure you would have wandered over here eventually. Perhaps in some noble quest to explore all corners of this port.

[ stop thanking him!!! hes not nice hes very mean ]

Perhaps, yes. It is a pleasant establishment.

[ Xenk smiles. That does sound like him! Astarion already knows him so well :D Gonna have to get used to thanks when you're friends with Xenk. ]

Now, as to your tale. Do you wish to continue?

[ Look at him, being all nice about it! Astarion did seem to enjoy himself while talking about his companions, and Xenk loves a good story. ]

Right, so. We made it to the shadow cursed area. We'd heard that there was a lot of cult-related activity at Moonrise Towers, so that's where we were headed to. Jaheira and her harpers had set up an base at an inn, where a cleric of Selune was keeping the curse at bay.

And you and yours fought this cult, with the aid of Selune and the High Harper herself? Impressive.

[ Anyone else might say that sounds too wild to be true, but you know Xenk believes every word. But he pauses here too. He's been paying attention, you see. ]

...How did your friend, the Shar cleric Shadowheart, find this cleric of Selune?

That's correct.

[ and the nightsong but like that's even more wild to say out loud so let's just go with the east version. ]

Well it was a good thing they had a common enemy!

I can only imagine.

[ This Shar cleric must have been pretty chill, all things considered!! Because they're certainly not known for sparing their enemies, or leaving a Selunite alive. Xenk takes a sip of his tea. It's still too hot, but he's really starting to like this whole "have drinks while hanging out with friends" thing. ]

All this, and to find yourself here now. It's clear fate has much in store for you, Astarion.

As long as putting a stake through Cazador's chest is also on fate's agenda, I'm happy to oblige.

[ There's an anger to his tone that Xenk likely hasn't heard yet. Raw and honest. This is important to him, in a way that makes it seem like nothing else he's ever said to Xenk could compare. ]

[ Oh, but Xenk does like to hear honesty. And while revenge is not always something to celebrate, one can always be in favor of destroying evil, and making villains pay. ]

I hope that for you as well, my friend. Such unmitigated cruelty cannot be allowed to go unanswered.

[ He'd march over to Baldur's Gate himself, if he could. If he could get in the door anyway, there's so much corruption there -- but killing an evil vampire? That's as black and white as it gets. ]

[ Gonna reclass to a vengeance paladin, please hold.

Astarion laughs, cold and short at Xenk's comment. It was better when they were talking about his allies, about his adventures. This topic isn't a comfortable one. ]

You don't even know the half of it.

[ Can you imagine how perfect that would be though. How much Astarion would destroy as a vengeance paladin? Bruh.

Yet Xenk can tell something is wrong, or perhaps that this topic is painful for him. It's clear in how wrong his laugh sounds, how pained. Even Xenk can tell. ]

Indeed.

[ He doesn't know! And Astarion said not to ask, so Xenk will take another sip of his tea. ]

Do you wish to continue discussing the ways with you wish to destroy your tormentor, or would you prefer I change the subject?

[ My guy, my dude..... Xenk Yendar, ladies and gentlemen. ]

[ The most infuriating part of all of this is he knows why Xenk is doing it. Xenk is doing as he said--he wouldn't ask personal questions. It's almost as bad as dealing with a devil or a fae, with the way he takes everything so painfully literally. Except with devils and fae they do it to fuck with you. And Xenk does it to be nice.

But it was supposed to be an opening. He was willing to tell Xenk more. To talk about how things had been with Cazador. Astarion needs the song and dance of the conversation, though. He needs help to coax these words from his lips. They're not easy to give on their own. ]

Lets change the subject.

[ Ah..... the downside of being so literal, Xenk blunders his way through that one, oblivious to the door he closed with his infallibility. He is insistent though, and navigating his friendship with Astarion is treading new ground for him, so it's pretty much to be expected. He's just got a lot to learn, when not everyone is as straightforward is him.

He nods, accepting his decision, poor though it may be. ]

You freed the land of its curse and traveled to Baldur's Gate, correct? Or were you spirited here before you could enter the city proper?

Edited 2023-08-29 20:59 (UTC)

We headed through Rivington and and then Wyrm's Crossing and into the city. The other two chosen are there, and the Elder Brain besides.

We've been solving random people's problems instead of getting on with it. [ he scrunches his face in distaste. Helping people! Imagine! ]

[ The way he just says those things with a straight face would be normal coming from Xenk but from Astarion it feels like. Deflecting? Is he deflecting?

Gosh, did Xenk do something wrong?? Hm. Better focus on that second part. ]

Have you? It sounds as though you would rather not.

[ Which is curious, because Xenk knows Astarion is kind. He just doesn't like to show it. So who, or what, is forcing his hand? ]

Yet you do not seem truly frustrated by this fact.

Edited (clearer) 2023-08-29 21:19 (UTC)

Well I hardly enjoy playing errand boy to everyone in the city!

[ He does not want to help everyone! Stop going into random people's houses and collecting clown parts this is none of our damn business. ]

It can seem incessant, once you begin to aid those in need. All the more reason to provide succor -- that such a great need exists.

[ Somehow, this makes Xenk smile. Astarion helping people, just for the sake of it? That's nice. Xenk sips his tea. ]

A great city like Baldur's Gate has no end to those who need aid, I'm sure. Even should you procure the aid of the Harpers, I have heard many tales of the city's dangers and strife.

Edited (wrong word) 2023-08-29 23:56 (UTC)

Oh, yes, all manner of frightful problems! Like vampire spawn, for example, hunting through the night and luring away unsuspecting citizens.

[ In other words, he's part of the problem. Or was. If he's not careful, he could be again. ]

[ That's very true. Xenk has no doubt encountered vampire spawn in his travels. Well, maybe. He's never been to Barovia. ]

Yet the spawn are victims as well, as you have said. They do not have the freedom to turn against this Cazador's orders.

[ There you go, he said his name! It feels better than "your master," that would just be insulting. ]

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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