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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

Back to the safe point. I'll join later.

[She'd just been about to prepare herself to pick him up when she pauses to look at Eustace—]

Wait. You want me to leave you here by yourself?

[He only looks at her for a moment.]

Priority goes to the victim. I won't be long.

[She looks like she has more to say to him—a protest, maybe—but she only frowns at him instead. That wasn't part of her plan, but...]

Fine.

[For once, she'll actually trust this guy? He may not have given her a very good first impression, but he can at least take care of himself just as well as she can.]

But if there's any trouble...

[She won't pick the man up yet and instead, she rummages through her pocket to pull out her phone, and she holds it out to him.]

[.....

He'll just stare at the phone before sighing and pulling out his and immediately going to the contacts.]

ID.

[He'd honestly prefer to NOT share his contact details... But he recognizes it would be for the better in this case.]

[It's fine, they can just delete each other later—

But she sees that look and the way that he stares at it, and that sigh, and she would roll her eyes if she were petty. Instead, she remains firm on her stance, but when he asks for her ID...

...

...

There's a light flush to her cheeks as she gives it quietly, almost muttered under a breath.]

...starshower.

[Oh he's definitely clearing it out—

There's only a small glance at her, mostly due to how...quiet it is.]

"Starshower"?

[So even though he heard it clearly, he'll just repeat it just in case as he inputs it into his phone.]

[She doesn't even know why she's so embarrassed about it. It's not like it's a bad ID name. It's actually oddly fitting, which might be why... but either way...]

Mm-hm.

[She gives a small, timid nod before she's swiping open her own contacts.]

And yours?

"Flamekthunder."

[He says it without issue, but he knows "Flamek" is not a normal word and he doesn't feel like spelling it out loud. So just as he finishes speaking, she'll receive a text message from him:]

This is Eustace.

Oh—

[She'd just been about to ask him if it's spelled exactly as she thinks it is before her phone dings with a message.]

Got it.

[And then she slips it back into her pocket.]

If I don't hear anything back from you in fifteen, I'm coming back to check.

...All right.

[Chances are he'll just kind of forget to keep in contact—but he won't disagree with it, either. It's an understandable time limit, and with everything settled, he'll start walking towards the wreck.]

[And Tifa lowers herself so that she can hoist the man up over her shoulders, and with a small 'hup!' she's pushing herself and him up with her legs to make off in the opposite direction, back to the camp where they had taken the other, sparing a single glance back at Eustace before she leaves.

Others had arrived to help those back at the safe zone, and Tifa spends those ten minutes administering the potions that she has to the others that people have managed to find. It's a relief that they have found so many, but it sets her ill at ease to know that there had been this many to begin with. That these sirens were so relentless in their pursuit...

Which is why, as the fifteen minute mark approaches, Tifa moves aside, hiding behind a rock to check her phone for any messages from him...]

[And is right on cue, Tifa will receive a message:]

No sign of other survivors. Returning to base now.

[So close to that mark. She almost started to worry.]

None? Thank god... There's some food and water here for everyone. I can grab you some before it's all gone.

[...He's just not going to mention how that might mean there were sailors already lost to the sirens.]

Understood.

[And that's all he'll send before not too much time later, he'll walk up to the base, the end of his cape and boots wet from stepping into the shallower areas of the water to do a proper check.]

[She doesn't want to think about that possibility, real as it is. It's just like before... with the reactors, and the plate. People were lost, but they couldn't linger on that fact. They could only save the ones that were still there to be saved...

But just as promised, Tifa has some food set aside for him, as well as some spare, dry towels in case he needs, because god knows she did when she got back. The food isn't much—just some breads and cheeses and water, as well as a couple sandwiches, but it's something to keep them going until they're sure that everyone is safe.

So when she sees him arriving, she wanders up with a towel draped over one arm and the plate of food in the other.]

Here. I grabbed what I could, but... didn't want to take too much away from the survivors.

[Eustace is actually a little surprised to see her offering the towel and the plate, staring at her for a moment before slowly taking it.]

...Thanks. But I'll just take the towel—you can give the food to someone else.

No. You should take it.

[Tifa gives him an even look.]

You aren't going to be able to help people effectively on an empty stomach. Plus, there's still plenty left. The food is for all of us.

[He still doesn't take it right away before he finally lets out a small breath and relents.]

All right.

[He'll then take the plate and glance at her. ...]

I assume you've followed your own words?

[Said with some skepticism. She looks like the type who would worry about others and not herself...]

Edited 2023-09-01 04:14 (UTC)

I did.

[Though, she did take significantly less than she gave him, but he really doesn't need to know that.]

There's some water over there too, which you should help yourself to as well. I would've, but... [A shy little gesture of her hands.] They were a little full.

...Hm.

[He looks at her for a moment before taking her word and moves to where the water is.]

Hear anything from the rest of the search?

Not much...

[There's something of a bleak, defeated look as she follows after him, setting the spare towels down on a nearby rock.]

They said they found some sailors dragged a little further down the beach, so it might be worth checking down there, but... they confirmed not all of them could be found.

[...Ah.]

It's unfortunate, but expected given how long it took to receive word of the incident. We should be grateful any survived.

Yeah... There could be some still out there, but...

[That's just how it is. As much as she wishes that she could save everyone all the time, they can't always. So, she only nods and helps herself to a glass of water once he's finished pouring himself some.

Ah. Tifa turns around to him then, lowering the glass that she'd raised to her lips for a sip.]

I, uh... meant to say... thanks for earlier.

[With everything now in hand, he's ready to move to sit somewhere so he can eat in peace, but he pauses when he hears her.

And then tilts his head slightly.]

For what?

STARTER SHIPS: ORIENTATION

ELTRUT: FIRST GLIMPSE

QUESTS

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