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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

People also trade their years away for stupid reasons too. I wonder which you think is worse.

[ He might be able to relate on the basis of being a noble. He doesn't mind so much if people fetishize him for being a celebrity with a stupid amount of power - he earned that for himself, after all, people should find it sexy! ]

Do you know of any particular reason they're so insular?

You mentioned magic like that before. I don't know if it's worse or not. Just different.

[ Really it's just less personal, so he hasn't thought about it as much. ]

Perspective, I think. Few others live as long as they do.

[ Alucard is thinking about the shopping spree Astarion could be doing in the Going Waters, a ship filled to the brim with magic items of all kinds and levels of power. Then he thinks that, given Astarion's acerbic wit, Maris would probably charge him 100 years to take home a single warming globe, which is basically the magical version of a handwarmer. It makes the magician cut a little smile to himself. ]

Have you ever thought of going to join them?

[ it strikes him as such an odd question, because he's never had the freedom to make that kind of decision before. ]

I don't think I'd fit in. They probably wouldn't appreciate my sense of humor!

[ also like, you know, the fact he can't go out in the sun without the tadpole ]

Well, that settles that then. You shouldn't even bother visiting.

[ He grins. ]

I've met another man here with pointed ears. I'm not sure if he's an elf or not, but I think you two would get along.

[ Boy, did they ever, Alucard. ]

I've met two other elves here. Fenris and Jarlaxle. Jarlaxle is actually from the same realm as me, although our paths never had reason to cross back home.

Baldur's Gate has something of a reputation.

Jarlaxle is the one I met. Wonderful man; I'm sure he could sell seawater to a sailor.

[ Brightly. Clearly Alucard likes him. Game recognizes game. ]

What reputation would that be?

I got the same impression. I rather enjoyed his company.

[ you know how he enjoyed it ]

There's a new threat every ten years or so, usually cults. The politics are frightful and lords who have no business being in power are constantly being instilled. To say nothing of the rampant crime!

[ this is wistful, pleasant. He likes his city ]

It was founded by pirates, or so they say! The City just wants to say true to its roots.

[ Alucard's eyes narrow as he does some internal math on what he knows of Astarion and the impression he got of Jarlaxle. He comes to the correct conclusion, but doesn't dwell on it. The topic has already moved on. ]

It's probably a bad idea to go getting homesick this early, Astarion.

[ He jokes, but there's a wryness to it. He can relate to missing a certain city. ]

Your saying you were a magistrate is beginning to sound more credible.

I'm hurt that you don't believe me!

[ He's APPALLED! He places his hand over his heart in mock-pain. ]

I have been nothing but honest with you!

You just don't strike me as someone who's very interested in laws, or upholding them.

[ You just shrug emoji'd at the question about how the Corsairs run their ship, sir. How many weeks has it been now? ]

Perhaps our definitions of what a magister is differs.

Well, see, that's exactly the kind of naivete that causes people not to like Baldur's Gate. I fit in perfectly well there!

[ You know, city officials on the take, that kind of thing. ]

Well if it's run by cutthroats and cut-purses, I can certainly see why! Is it also under the rule of some emperor that gets assassinated and usurped according to the season?

Lords and dukes, and yes, the intrigue is really something! The latest lord to put himself in power used mindcontrol to force another to install him in his position.

[ Ah, Baldur's Gate. Stay classy. ]

Tac. [ Alucard clucks his tongue with a scoff. ] Court actually sounds interesting for once. Is this celebrated public information or were you something of an information broker in addition to your magisterial duties?

Oh, no, this is part of my current adventuring predicament. We're going to get involved [ he says this is like it's the stupidest, worst thing they could do ] and try to fix it. In part because, clearly, none of us value our lives enough.

You don't sound very enthusiastic. Does it pay well?

No, it hardly pays at all, in fact, because our idiot [ affectionate] bard keeps doing things out of the kindness of their heart instead of asking for a reward. I'm lucky they even let me open any chests with the way they treat everyone they come into contact with!

Why don't you refuse to participate without a reward?

[ He's pretty sure he knows why, based on that affectionate tone. That doesn't mean Astarion will admit it. ]

Force of circumstance. It's better than sitting around camp doing nothing.

[ Besides he does get to loot the chests, even if all the stuff goes into their collective magical pockets. ]

I do tend to find risking my life more fun when it's with someone else. Most things are.

[ But he found it was still possible to feel lonely even when surrounded by people you like and care for, and not by anyone's fault but his own.

As they make their way up into Shellton, because surely they've pretty much made it up from the edge of the shell to the town by now, his eyes catch briefly on the little restaurant they'd spent time together at before. It won't be long until they're in the town proper. ]

[ He follows his gaze. It had been a nice time, but it would've been better if the day hadn't ended the way it did, of course. ]

If you find someone worth it.

[ His gaze returns to Astarion, the gem above his brow glinting as he tilts his head. ]

Mm.

[ He lets a silence stretch between them for a moment. Maybe the occasion would arise to make more memories; it'd already happened once and here they are, still talking when Alucard had meant to stay on the ship and watch Astarion go. ]

You said "our" bard. How many more did you have in your crew?

There are ten of us, total. And a skeleton.

[ They haven't recruited Minsc (and Boo!) yet which a damn shame because Astarion would be perfectly happy to look at Minsc. ]

Don't ask about the skeleton, I honestly couldn't tell you what he is. We picked him up in a crypt we were looting and now he just hangs out. He might be a minor deity.

[ or a major one?? literally he has no idea. ]

Other people have come and gone through camp as well, but we're the ones that do the actual questing and errand running. Four people head out at a time, a decent sized party without attracting unwanted attention.

[ His brow furrows and he looks just a little puzzled by Astarion's description. There would have been more of a reaction if Xenk hadn't told him about what undead were; doesn't seem like you get more "dead brought back to some form of life" than a skeleton that "hangs out". Magic is so cool, honestly.

But anyway. ]

I see. So if you're obstinate, you get left behind.

[ He almost said "put in time out" but Astarion is being so good right now. ]

I take it the bard is your leader?

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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