« february: dragon's gale 2025 »

[seaboards]

Welcome to the 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 February 22nd and apply on March 1st. Our EMP/ATP can be found here.

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice | TDM (IF TDMING). Current players can use the same header, just without the "TDM" label. We do require those who are TDMin'g to include the label so other players can distinguish between others.

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 carry over the threads. The log itself is set to cover starting from February 14th 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.

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 February 27th)

TEST SAILORS:
Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Lace Harding | Undecided
Durarara!! - Shizuo Heiwajima | Paladin
Final Fantasy VII - Cait Sith | Corsair
Final Fantasy VII - Aerith Gainsborough | Paladin
Genshin Impact - Noelle | Paladin
Granblue Fantasy - Lyria | Corsair
Omori - Basil | Undecided
Original Character - Zellias Vance-Arland | Corsair
Sonic the Hedgehog - Dr. Starline | Paladin
Sonic the Hedgehog - Miles "Tails" Prower | Corsair
Sonic the Hedgehog - Amy Rose | Corsair
The Amazing Digital Circus - Pomni | Undecided
The Silt Verses - Faulkner | Corsair


CURRENT MEMBERS:
Dandadan - Ken Takakura | Corsair
Dragon Age: The Veilguard - Davrin | Paladin
Ducktales 2017 - Della Duck | Corsair
Final Fantasy VII - Nanaki | Paladin
Forgotten Realms - Kolnatha Shavval | Corsair
Genshin Impact - Lyney | Corsair
Kingdom Hearts - Axel | Corsair
Mass Effect - Garrus Vakarian | Paladin
Original Character - Darin Altway | Corsair
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet - Kieran | Corsair
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened - Sherlock Holmes | Paladin
Sonic the Hedgehog - Shadow | Corsair
Sonic the Hedgehog - Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik | Corsair

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GETTING STARTED

This section can be timed for any time after February 1 until the end of the month, which includes during the current event. These prompts are to benefit those TDMing, but this portion can be handwaved instead and serve as a reference for players to know what their character will have experienced and learned on arrival.

STARTER SHIPS

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. The crews for both ships will also seem a bit odd to some, as it is a mix of humans and various animal folk, non-humans that look more animal than human. Some just look like large versions of their smaller counterparts. From birds, to seals, to even bears, there is no shortage of interesting faces and people on 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 lookout 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.

ON ELTRUT

Once in Eltrut, the new riftfarers will be greeted by several birdfolk who will be happy to give tours to those who may need them. Otherwise, anyone is free to roam as they please and will have a map for the following main places they should visit.

🐚 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.

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OCARD: ISLAND OF DRAGONS

Early in the month, Nogard will travel to the island of Ocard where dragons of all types can already be seen migrating to it. A large island filled with clear blue lakes, dense forests, high mountainous cliffs, and even large, rocky platforms that somehow float in the air, it is the perfect place for such mythical creatures to gather, mingle, and hopefully find their mate and brood. While some dragons do remain on the island as permanent residents, the real "keepers" of Ocard are the dragonfolk. Living deep within the forests, they are a race of dragons that come in different sizes and forms, but have less magic and power compared to the larger ones. They help protect the land and ensure it continues to thrive so that the dragons can come and go without issue.

Those from Eltrut and Elah will have access to a special dragon run ship that will cut through the waters and get them there within two days.

While it is impossible to cover all the types of dragons that are coming into Ocard, and there are many hybrids and mixes, they are generally grouped into the following types:

💨 Air.

Air dragons look like they’re made of diamonds with transparent bodies and fluffy feathered wings. They are gentle and peaceful and like to play. They will toss people in the air or give them the temporary ability to fly with their dragon’s breath. They like to play harmless pranks on others like stealing items, kidnapping people for rides in the clouds or impersonating the voices of loved ones.

🔥 Fire.

These are quadrupedal, lizard-like and have thick leathery wings. They are playfully aggressive and like to fight and show off their strength. They’ll do anything to show off their might which means they will challenge anyone and everything to a fight. But it is important to note that they’re not bloodthirsty. They just love competition and will back down if they rightfully lose. They have the ability to heal anyone after a duel and like to give winners shiny gold coins.

💧 Water.

These ones are fish and snake-like, with long bodies and fins and shiny lustrous scales. They spend most of their time in the water and like to jump out and make a show of dancing on top of the water and over the waves. They are performing creatures and love music and dance and will coax others to either swim with them or dance with them on the water’s surface. They enjoy lifting spirits and will give others bits of wisdom and life advice. For anyone who shows an appreciation for music, they will gift them pretty gemstones.

⛰️ Earth.

They are heavy, thick and dinosaur-like and look like they are made of stone and metal. They like to breathe on plant life to make it grow faster and love to munch on trees and bushes. They can make flowers grow in people’s hair and will give them sweet fruits to eat. They also enjoy talking and sharing stories and will often offer words of affirmation to those who need a boost of self-esteem.

⚡ Lightning.

These dragons look like they’re made of a thundercloud, with puffy bodies and electrical currents running through them. They are dreamers and like to nap or put people to sleep. They will give dreamers good dreams and curl up with them to sleep as well. They are experts in dreaming so if asked politely about the sleeping curse they will give others a black round amulet to cure one person each of the sleeping curse. It coughs up the amulet, so the requester will need to wipe off the sticky saliva.

🕶️ Darkness.

These dark dragons have huge thick leathery wings and dark metal-like scales and nails. They often breathe out black smoke and have dark-coloured eyes or piercing bright yellow ones. Despite their dark look, these dragons are not hostile in any way. They dislike fighting and would rather lounge around and listen to the world passing by them. Despite that, they like to inflict nightmares on sleeping creatures just to see them squirm or to make their dreams just a little more interesting. They might also know about the sleeping curse and can extract sleeping demons… If they care enough to help. They might need convincing in the form of many delicious snacks.

This year, several tribes of snakefolk will be traveling to Ocard as "special guests" of sorts. It seems the dragons have always tried to invite their reptilian cousins, and the snakefolk have always been reticent as during the winter months they are less active and prefer to stay in their warmer homes. But enticed by the prospect of gathering rare herbs and gems, a few have managed to "slither" their way over. While most are around as fellow guests and travelers like everyone else, some have decided to take advantage of the opportunity and participate in some way for the festival to show off their tribe's talents. Maintaining their snake origins, they do not have legs, instead using their long tails to slither over the ground, but they do have arms and hands that are more like claws with their sharp nails.

🪞 Illusionists.

The illusionists are masters of creating imagery and hallucinations to deceive the unaware. Be it through their seductive whispers, enchanting dances and music, or special incense to alter the senses, these snakefolk are considered the most "beautiful" and bewitching of them all. Be careful not to be ensnared by their glittering eyes. They are more interested in entertaining and being entertained, and will be happy to provide special "services" that could rival the Naughtilust. Their warriors excel in using illusions to create clones and phantasms of themselves to confuse their opponent, and are adept at both physical and magical weaponry.

☣️ Venomous.

The venomous snakefolk produce a natural venom in their fangs and the effects vary depending on the type. Some will paralyze, some will destroy the skin, and whether a death is quick or slow will also depend on the type. Fortunately that shouldn't be an issue… For the festival, these venomous snakes will display their mastery of potions and poisons. They will have an assortment available for sale, however those who want the more, uh, questionably lethal kind will need to find "backdoor" means to acquire. They are also very interested in the ingredients available in Ocard and will pay a decent wage or provide potions (or poisons) to those who can help them acquire the more difficult ones. Also known for their "silver tongue," they are also quite good at gathering information, so maybe they have some secrets they could share… Their warriors are the most agile and prefer to dart in quickly for a lethal strike, utilizing their venoms and poisons as well as the shadow arts.

🪴 Plant.

The plant snakefolk take a different route than their venomous kin. They are a peaceful and somewhat "cute" tribe, their stature smaller and more interested in learning and exploring what's around them. Vegetarians, they are experts in all things plants, they are masters at manipulating greenery and will happily study the flowers and plants Ocard provides. Although peaceful, they do study self-defense in a form similar to monks, with preference to martial arts and plant manipulation to subdue their foes.

🌊 Water serpents.

The water serpents are a hybrid between dragons and snakes and come in a variety of forms, sizes, and colors. They live exclusively in the water and thus had to swim from their tropical warm waters to Ocard. They are the grumpiest of the bunch because of this, especially since most of the festivities are on land. Unbelievable. To entertain themselves, they will be causing havoc on the ships, taunting anyone willing to fight them in the water, and spraying water at those who venture on the beach. Perhaps providing them food, entertainment, and some place comfortable to rest would help their mood…

While the festivities of Dragon's Gale are the predominant attraction of Ocard, the island itself holds ample opportunities of resources and locations that visitors can explore… But the dragons will not promise any protection for those who venture further than the designated zones. Although dragons reign supreme, there are other monsters and hazards that can threaten not only non-dragons, but young hatchlings as well. Threats that the dragons will gladly reward those who help deal with them.

❤️ Heart gems. Near the base of the island, a new underground mine has been discovered that is ripe for exploration. The mine is littered with shiny, glittering gemstones of every colour, all in the shape of hearts. Go digging for treasure and collect as many heart-shaped gems as desired. Any extra jewels that are found can either be gifted to the dragons or kept.
🥚 Dragon egg baths. Mating season means eggs are being laid all over the island. To help the dragonfolk, take some of the precious newly laid eggs down to one of the many island hot springs and wash them gently in the water. This will promote healthy gestation periods for the eggs and is a nice hot bath for you. The spring water is obviously very good for boosting fertility and increasing certain desires, too…!
🍾 Swamp Ingredients. The local snakefolk are in need of some ingredients for their various potions and poisons, some of which can only be found deep in the dangerous swamp. Go out and collect the needed ingredients, but beware: some of the ingredients are quite toxic if handled incorrectly, so exercise caution while gathering. Those foraging for ingredients also need to beware the hostile animals, basilisks, and quicksand prevalent within the swamp as well.
🌿 Venus vine traps. Some young plant snakes have thought of a new fun game: using magic to get venus fly traps and vines in the swamp to tangle people up and dangle them from the canopy. While they are harmless pranks, it’s still very inconvenient for those wanting to explore the swamp. Help free anyone tangled up in the vines, or try and find the young plant snakes and see if you can convince them to cut out their antics.
🌸 Flower garden. What better location for a romantic stroll than through a lush, full-blooming flower garden? Even if you don’t have a beloved to take through them, the flowers are still beautiful to look at. Though be careful to pay attention to what flowers you go by, as some of them may cause various different effects such as falling asleep, bursting into giggles, or feel exceptionally amorous to those who stop to smell the roses.
🍾 Garden Ingredients. The flower garden is full of flowers that can be useful in creating non-toxic potions, but some of the local plant snakes were a bit overzealous in their picking of the flowers and are now restricted to limited access. Anyone who would be willing to go into the flower gardens and pick the required flowers they need for their potions would be rewarded handsomely by the plant snakes.
🐡 Catfishing. The waters around the island have very special catfish that are swimming around in droves. They can be caught and eaten for a delicious meal but if the fishers aren’t careful the catfish will start mimicking the voice of the person the fisher adores most and will start spouting a bunch of lies and secrets.
🐚 Beach combers. It’s not uncommon for seashells to wash up on the shores of Ocard’s beaches, but there are some special iridescent seashells known as Serpent’s Scales that are especially sought out by sea serpents to make their nests especially beautiful. Go and find the prettiest, most iridescent seashells you can and bring them back to the sea serpents so they can have the fanciest nests on the island. They only want the absolute prettiest seashells, so any that don’t meet their standards can be kept by the beach combers and, if desired, the sea serpents can turn any rejected seashells into Serpent’s Scales jewellery as thanks.
💙 Lover’s lagoon. They say that hidden along the beaches of Ocard are isolated little lagoons that are perfect date spots. They’re pretty hard to find, but if you manage to find one, it could be a beautiful spot to unwind and enjoy the natural scenery on one’s own or with a special someone.

It's already known that the dragons tend to side with the Corsairs due to the Armada's affiliation with Nogard, a dragon leviathan, however the snakefolk will be a bit split in their "preferences." While they won't refuse anyone who shows interest, the venomous snakes and illusionists will be most interested in dealing with the Corsairs, offering deals to their services and products to those who like to live a little on the edge of the law, perhaps even share some "secrets"—if their words can be trusted. There's something of a... mutual understanding. The Paladins, on the other hand, will receive bonus perks from the botanists and water serpents, who favour the more peaceful and lawful ways. They will gladly share in some of the rare herbal ingredients, and the serpents will help deal with any rogues that try to escape via ship with illegal goods, especially when it comes to the dragon eggs.

Once again, the dragon eggs are being targeted by thieves who want to either sell them for a high price to collectors, or to zealous chefs who find dragon eggs a delectable ingredient. To make matters worse, the eggs can look like rare treasure. The best way to know which is a real dragon egg is to see if it will absorb elemental magic. Corsairs will be tasked in stopping and retrieving stolen eggs, and any Corsairs caught stealing will be punished even more harshly as there is a pact between the Armada and the dragons.

Meanwhile, with the influx of potions from the snakefolk, the Paladins will have to track down some notorious groups known in dealing with dangerous, toxic poisons. Because the snakefolk may be involved, care must be taken so as not to ruin the festive mood and they must not blindly accuse anyone. Something that may be hard to do as tensions between Corsairs and Paladins continue to rise. It won't be uncommon for a Paladin to incorrectly assume any Corsair dealing with one of the venomous snakefolk to be part of the ring…

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DRAGON'S GALE

With the assistance of the Corsairs who share a natural affinity towards the dragons due to Nogard's own draconic form, large feasts and challenges are held often as entertainment for visitors. The dragons also participate in these activities, as they also use them as an opportunity to show off and meet other potential mates. Or perhaps it's not a dragon that catches their eye…!?

There is a plethora of activities as one might expect for a time of celebration and matchmaking. Although the focus is on the dragons, the spirit and mood makes them playful enough to try and push their non-dragon guests to find their own "special partner." And for those who are not so romantically inclined, forging friendships and strong bonds are also heavily encouraged.

🐍 Wooden snake carvings. All around the island are small wood carving stations where people can try their hand at carving out a special lucky wooden snake. If partners can carve out a nice snake carving, it is said to bring the pair good luck and good fortune for the year.
🥇 Golden snake bangles. This year, special golden snake bangles are being given out to arrivals on the island to keep. They seem harmless and pretty but be careful because walking too close to another person will have the bangle latch onto them too and you’ll be latched together by the wrist for a few hours.
🍸 Venom potions. There are an array of special potions, lip balms and tinctures for sale at merchant carts around the island. These special products are made out of various different types of snake venom that are said to give the user all sorts of different effects. Some of the effects include clear skin, muteness, attraction to the next person you see or sheer paralysis!
💑 Fire massages. Some of the Snakefolk are offering a special “couple’s massage” where pairs can come to have a nice relaxing massage together. Enjoy a stress relieving experience given by some of the very talented Snakefolk that use their powerful tails to coil around your limbs to squeeze and shake all those pesky knots right out of you.
🍝 Spicy noods. Along with a lot of the other food and drink offered around the island, there is a special challenge this year to eat a large bowl of the famous “Eltrut’s Spicy Noods.” It consists of one pound of meat, one pound of fishcakes, two pounds of noodles and veggies all in the famous super spicy soup broth that is said to be as hot as a volcano.
💕 Love noods. Alternatively, there is another challenge offered up to challengers that can eat a four pound bowl of delicious and savoury chicken flavoured “love noodle soup”. The catch is you have to eat the bowl of noodles with a partner. You get bonus points if it’s with a partner you don’t know. Grab a friend or a stranger and start slurping!
💋 Dragon’s kiss. Have you ever wanted to smooch a dragon? Now is your chance, as the dragons have become docile enough to consider it. Challenge each other by seeing who can kiss a dragon and make it blush. Some of the dragons are rightfully poisonous to kiss though, so be careful.
🤜 Snake fight. They are tired and cranky and itching to fight. Are they perhaps stronger than dragons? With the illusionists and their clones, the venomous with their speed and poisons, and the botanists with their calm and plant control, they will prove to be a worthy opponent at least. Claim victory for a prize and bragging rights for your love!

Unlike other festival type feasts, the kind hosted by the dragons are huge with more of an all-you-can-eat buffet style. Held during the evenings and always accompanied with giant casks of ale, there are large portions of meat, all hunted by the dragons and dragonfolk, though they will welcome any who may try their luck and offer something to the many tables as well. In fact, this year they offer a challenge for anyone to venture out into the island or out in the waters to find the largest animal to catch for the feast. When up against the mighty dragonfolk that might seem unfair, but that's what also makes it all the more exciting.

Just beware taking on a drinking challenge from a dragon—they have greater tolerance than most and will be quick to goad anyone to try and drink them under the table (though they usually end up on top instead). A special dragon's ale has been brewed, one that has been in the making for what they claim to be centuries. Down this drink and one will feel as if they are a dragon themselves, gaining increased strength and endurance. However, that's only useful if one can stay sober, as even half a drink can make the most stalwart dragon a bit tipsy. Who knows how it would affect any non-dragons…

But for those who may want a lighter snack, there are some local cafes and many stalls selling special delicacies and other common festival food. One particular favorite is the dragon croissant, adorable pastries shaped like tiny dragons. Anyone who's eaten a croissant will be granted a partial or full dragon transformation for the day (but the wings do not fly). Another favorite is the rainbow dragon peppers. Depending on the colour of pepper, those who are brave enough to eat the peppers will be given a special type of breath: fire, lightning, or ice.

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CASTLE RAIDS

Scattered throughout the island are numerous castles and ancient temples and buildings that many dragons have called their own. From high up in the mountains and floating land masses, to deep within the lakes and caves, there is question of whether these structures are leftovers from the "old world" or if they were built especially for the dragons. Perhaps a mix of both. Regardless, all of them house untold treasures and relics that the dragon resident has collected over time.

And Dragon's Gale is the perfect time for their "spring cleaning" of sorts.

While a dragon would rather kill anyone who tries to take their hoard, it has become tradition to allow non-dragon visitors to test their might and wit to actually do so. They have to begrudgingly admit they have way too much and some can be hazard for young dragons, so they set aside what they are (un)willing to part with and those who are able to pass through their challenges and traps, or perhaps even face the dragon itself, can keep their rewards.

To make things more interesting and in the spirit of their own endeavors in finding a mate, there is a known "challenge" where dragons will dragonnap unsuspecting individuals, usually those who are seen either with a significant other or close friends, and bring them to their castle. Now their "hostage" must be saved. While some may disagree, the dragons find this "game" a surefire way to help unwilling couples or friends to show their bonds. No harm will come to the hostage, unless something should happen to incite the dragon's ire…

This year the snakefolk have been enlisted convinced to help assist the dragons in their strange game. Whether they participate with full hearts or just kind of wave their hands and let would-be heroes pass will depend on the snakefolk. But they will utilize their skills and some should be careful around the illusionists and venomous ones as they may direct their ire towards the "heroes." The also whisper of something very intriguing called Sarht's Heart.

There is a rumor being spread by the snakefolk of keys that could lead to a "treasure" called "Sarht's Heart." What it is exactly they do not know, but after the expedition into the desert it seems something out there could be related. They say the keys are scattered throughout Ocard hidden by the dragons. The dragons neither confirm nor deny and do not answer any questions that could be related to Sarht. In fact they seem adamant in remaining silent. But some may find some dragons more aggressive in guarding their treasure during the raids. Perhaps there is some truth to those words?

There are indeed special golden keys scattered throughout Ocard, not just in the dragon hoards but most will be found there. Find as many as possible and submit all findings during AC. The Armada that has the most participants will get the "prize" at the end.

🪨 Underground Caverns. In addition to the castles, underground caverns have been cleared out and "refurbished" to be used as additional hoarding sites, and thus some may find themselves traversing underground through convoluted cave systems to rescue their "beloved." Traps and obstacles will still exist, but be careful. Although the dragons did clear out most of it, they couldn't be bothered to do a full extermination, so there may still be a few dangerous creatures lurking around…
🕸️ Maze. The castle itself is a labyrinth of corridors that twist and turn among themselves. Not only that, but there are illusory walls and floors that are designed to disorient people, so everyone should keep their wits about them! Large, feral spiders creep among the dusty cobwebs, and down the other corridor is a toy spider that, if broken, has candy inside. Try not to trip the giant rolling boulders, or else be ready to run and duck into other corridors to escape!
💨 Traps. The castle is armed with all sorts of dangerous traps, so watch your step! Flamethrowers, hidden trap doors that drop into dangerous spike pits, tripwires that will trigger spiked walls to close in. There are even some rooms fortified with smoke traps that will shroud anyone in darkness. Should anyone choose to take the less adventurous route, instead of steel, everything will be made of foam, the pits will be filled with all manner of nasty things (pudding, whipped cream, jello, balls!), and the darkness gas will be replaced with laughing gas. Opening a random chest may also send people to another random room in the castle, so be warned!
🪄 Magic Hexes. Randomly, magical hexes will be cast in an attempt to disorient the raiders. They can range from paralysis to confusion, even sometimes hallucinations. Other times, they can be physical effects—oops, did their legs just turn into fins? Why does it feel like someone is tickling them for ten minutes non-stop?
🗝️ Guardians. A fortress of treasures always has to have guards, so there will be encounters with stone gargoyles, trolls, wyvern, and the like. Fend them off!

For those who do make it past the many obstacles and out of the traps, they will be faced with one final challenge: battle the one of the many dragons! Whether caught attempting to steal treasure that they will guard or trying to save a hostage, they are on full alert, and boy, do the dragons love a good fight. While these battles will not be too challenging, they are still looking for raiders and rescuers to put on a good fight and show with them. Weapons and magic are fair game, and they will do the same, but remember: this is just that, a game.

In the end, they are simply trying to strengthen the bonds of others, and maybe even play a little bit of matchmaker. Just remember that this is all for fun, so show off a little to impress that hostage, add a bit of dramatic flair, and have a good time!

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QUESTS

The current MANTA Board is available, but we have a couple of additional quests that are specific for the event! 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. All quests will be worth 4 points.

Lily-livered Scallywags!

Everywhere

With the new wave of riftfarers flooding in, it’s high time that everyone takes a lesson on how to insult others like a good pirate would. Grab a partner and verbally attack each other with the best pirate insults you can come up with. Nothing can break the spirit of a pirate like a good, hearty and heartfelt insult! Use your best pirate phrases like, “You fight like a dairy farmer!” or “This is the END for you, you gutter crawling cur!” to take them out. Yarrrr!

The first one to crumble under the pressure of the verbal abuse will be deemed the victor.

Oh Barnacles, Mr. Krabs!

Eltrut

With spring just around the corner, a lot of shipowners are thinking about getting a head start on their heavy spring-cleaning. A lot of the ships that have come into the main dock are badly covered in wood-hungry, structure-weakening barnacles that need to be removed before the ships get holes in them.

Take tools such as long handled shovels and heavy picks and start scraping off the barnacles until the ships are clean and shiny once again.

Save the Last Dance for Me

Eltrut

While the islands are rich with magic, sometimes it’s better to grab a sword rather than wave a spell around. There is a travelling swordsman on Eltrut who has been going around offering elegant sword lessons to anyone who would like them. But he can only teach people in pairs because his style of swordplay involves quirk feet, quick steps and quick hearts. It’s more like a dance than it is a fight.

Grab a partner and learn this quick-stepping sword style for all to see.

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Comments

QUESTIONS

[seaboards]

Any questions regarding the TDM specifically go here! Any general questions about the Game go to the Game Info.

Cait Sith | FFVII Rebirth | Corsair | New Character

[felinefortune]

[OOC: Cait is a Very New character for me and this is a bit of a voice test. His canon point is roughly Chapter 12, but that will also be wibbly-wobbly as I continue to progress through the game and find some more stable ground. Please try to avoid major spoilers, thank you]

[A - Arrival]

HELP!

[It's a small voice, but he's yelling as loud as he can. Cait Sith isn't quite sure how he got into this predicament, but it certainly is that. He clings to the railing of the ship with all his might. His little legs kick in the air, not quite long enough to get purchase to pull himself up. And below him is only the clear waters of the briny deep.

It's no position for a cat to be in.]

I don't suppose you could help a guy up! Please!

[B - Dragonnapped]

Well, that was rude.

[Cait says as he's dropped, rather roughly, he would add into a cell. It's also no place for a cat. No place for anyone, he would think. At least ask someone before you're gonna pick him up.

But it doesn't take long before he's up, dusting himself off, and looking around.]

So, what seems to be the best way out?

[C - Fortunetelling]

[A Festival! Now this is more his speed. It's a little rustic compared to what he's used to, but he can work with it. After all, he knows how to bring a good time!

So he find's a small place, perhaps between some booths or near to an eating area. There's a flash of light and a wave of smoke and sparkles, and suddenly, a rather strange sight. The ground might shake slightly as a large, white creature appears, and on it's head, a black cat, in a red cape and a crown. He poses for a moment before taking out a megaphone.]

Fortunes! Get your fortunes here! Want to find out how your date is going to go? How about if he's going to say yes!

Fortunes! Get your fortunes!

[D - Barnacles]

[It's a bit of a silly sight, but he's on the ship, trying to lift up one of the tools. However, Cait is just a cat and the tools are made for a human.]

I don't suppose they have anything smaller? This is going to be a bit of a rough job if they don't.


[E - Wildcard]

[Open to anything else and plotting can be done at urbaninja or PM]

A

[sos_pilot]

Hang on, little guy!

[ Alley-oop! A pair of arms grab on tight to his little ones, and she begins trying to yank him up. ]

Nice and easy, nice and easy...!

Shadow | Sonic the Hedgehog (Game) | Corsair

[wherethereislight]

Flower Garden/Ingredients

A - Where The Wild One Sleeps
[Shadow is staying far away from the festivities and would rather investigate what the island has to offer instead. The amount of love in the air though was a still lingering annoyance he had to deal with. Though he's suppose it's the inevitable when one decides to in roam around the flower garden. He is here for a reason though, trying to gather flowers for the snake folk. That and seeing what flowers there are, something he could maybe take to add to the frost blossoms he already has. Lavenders would be nice, or perhaps...white lilies. As he was thinking it, he comes across a patch of lilies. He stares at them, for longer than he thinks. What really happens is he starts to fall asleep, and not realize it until it's too late. What flowers he had collected slip slightly out of the bag he's carrying. A few marigolds, lavenders and chamomile for the curious. His sleep can either be peaceful or troubled when found. Player's choice.]

B - Turn That Frown Upside Down
[Spending time in the this garden seems to start having a slight euphoric effect on Shadow. For one, he's engaging with other people he passes by instead avoiding them. It could be a simple wave or seeing what you're up to.] Flowers for someone?

[He won't even shoo you away, if you come up to him while he's collecting a batch of flowers, or just sit with him to admire them. If you're lucky, you might catch a geniune smile on his face. He will hate all of this later.]

C - Quest: Save the Last Dance for Me
[Learning other styles of combat is important in keeping your enemies guessing. He doesn't understand why this would require someone else in order for this to be effective though. You can't always expect to have someone with you...but sometimes you are forced into working with someone. Whatever.]

Don't slow me down. [He brandishes the sword provided to him, awaiting further instruction with whomever he is paired with.]

[Wildcard]
Feel free to drop your own prompt idea or reach me through PM, noletters or the Game Discord if you have an idea you would like to play out!

C

[scooba]

[Upon looking at Shadow and then back at the sword given to him, he suddenly felt nervous. He had trained with his siblings before but it was another to do it with someone else.]

Uh, I hope so? I have to admit, I never used a sword before.

[His weapon was usually a Claymore. Using something this light was not his speciality.]

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV | Paladin

[emet_sulk]

[ I'll be doing closed top-levels this time and trying to tag out. Feel free to request a thread or a tag-in for your character though! ]

Joshua Rosfield (FF16)

[emet_sulk]

Emet-Selch idly rubs at the golden bangle he had been given upon arrival on Ocard. It's not something he would usually wear but it seems wiser to at least look as though he is participating in the festivities. He still hasn't forgotten what happened the last time he stepped foot here: the dramatic kidnapping and the Exarch's subsequent, unexpected rescue.

He wonders if this time it will be the miqo'te who is kidnapped and he who will have to play saviour. The thought elicits a grimace. They may not be enemies any longer but that doesn't mean he has to like the fellow.

Pushing aside these thoughts, he closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them, a myriad of colours greets his eyes. Sadly, too many for him to identify some meagre flash of gold. He blinks and the view returns to normal.

"Well, 'twas worth a try..." he mutters to himself. He strides forward purposefully regardless, having spied a familiar soul in that short time. A young man with blond hair and a kind smile.

Emet-Selch slows his pace and saunters up nonchalantly to Joshua. "Fancy meeting you here, little lordling."

Dr. Starline | Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW) | Paladins | TDM

[warptopazmaster]

Side A - Arrival

The weight of a city and his failures crumbling upon him. That's where it should have ended for Starline. Having been bested and beaten and bruised.. Hands clutching his dizzying head he thought this is how I die, not with a bang but- ... and yet a clink of glass. A ship in a bottle rolling from the crumbling foundations to his feet and all at once it was a swirl of wild winds and he was gone.

Just as fast and just as alarming he was suddenly spat out, standing and really staggering out onto wooden, rocking boards of.. His eyes darted around to see- a ship? A right and proper pirate ship he'd guess amidst his confusion. Here now stands Starline on the deck of the Royal Fortune. He looks dazed and lost and even disgusted as he takes in the sloppy uniform he's clad in.. and his eyes fall on you.

He doesn't hesitate to storm up to your character and (-likely craning his neck at a middling four feet tall-) look up at them with skepticism.

"If it's all the same to you I'd love a proper- make it succinct and don't fluff it up- explanation for what in the world is happening right now?"

Side B - Bangles

Okay. Frankly he should have expected trouble with anything free. Yet with the drab garb he's been dealing with he couldn't resist snagging the golden snake-like bracelets being handed out seemingly without a catch. Seemingly he would think back on in retrospect with shame at his stupidity as all it took was brushing past someone in the crowd of the festivities for a click to sound and suddenly they were yanked back together!

Starline sputters and his eyes snap to their wrists clamped together by their respective bracelets- and he promptly immediately started shaking his arm desperately to get them to come apart.

"Oh no- no of course! Perfect! Just what I needed right now.." He huffs with frustration as he finally pays more mind to who he's stuck with.

Side C - Dragon-napped

It's a very uncouth sort of scream, and string of cursing that would make a seasoned sailor blush as Starline is swept out of the midst of everything by a dragon. It would be all too kind for the thing to just eat him and let him be done with all this gobbledygook nonsense but no! Of course not! Instead he's squirrelled away in a cell, a glorified cage really.

Immediately he's clutching the bars and continuing his blubbering on- "When I get out of here you'll be wishing it was just some colourful words I'll have for you! Do you hear me? This is no place for someone like me!" He frantically looks about for any sort of way out.. only to spot someone else in the cell with him. He blinks and immediately smooths back his hair before crossing his arms, trying to save face. "..You know I'm not usually on this side of the doors."

Nailed it.

B

[spinsandneedles]

Upon being snagged suddenly by the wrist, naturally Sonic's head snaps around to find the reason for it... and the source of this weirdly familiar voice. Imagine his surprise upon discovering that he's not only suddenly handcuffed to someone, but handcuffed to his second least favorite doctor ever. Said surprise passes fairly quickly, and he yanks his wrist back sharply. Mostly just to be obnoxious.

"Huh. If someone had put a gun to my head, I would have sworn I'd heard you were dead."

That's about the warmest greeting Sonic's got, buckaroo.

Della Duck | Ducktales 2017 | Corsair

[sos_pilot]

Dungeons and Dragons

[ The one Snake-Person Della is mostly familiar with is, to be honest, kind of a dick. So at first she was wary about mingling with the scalies, but given her friendly nature, she's soon charmed! There's fun to be had, and she's happy to explore, fight, and see what trouble she can get into!

If anyone is also helping with the Dragon Egg Baths, Della will be spotted tenderly washing her share of eggs with a very soft expression on her face. There's a hint of sadness as she does this, but it's mostly clouded with motherly affection. Maybe if you're close enough, you can hear her singing a faint lullaby. ]

Look to the stars, my darling baby boys,
Life is strange and vast, filled with wonders and joy.
Face each new sun, with eyes clear and true,
I'm not afraid of the unknown, because I'll face it all, with you...

[ All right, enough of that sappiness, back to the action! With her enhanced Dowsing Blade, she feels confident hunting for Swamp Ingredients, and helping those who have been caught by the Venus Vine Traps... or maybe she got caught in the latter and needs help getting down. Nobody ever said she was perfect.

With all that energy spent, it's time to gain those calories back, and boy, the goods are plenty! She's no stranger to a challenge, so of course she'll take on Spicy Noods and hassling everyone/anyone nearby to come join her. She also will down the Dragon Crossiant, and then get in everyone's faces to go - ]

AHAHAHA I HAVE CLAWS NOW THIS IS AWESOME. YOU GOTTA TRY THIS!

[ There's still plenty of room in her tummy for more, so expect an unexpected burp of lightning, thanks to the Rainbow Dragon Peppers. Then it's time to wash it all down with Dragon's Ale, taking on yet another challenge she probably shouldn't. It's fine, she's fine, there's always been six of you, right?

Now it's time for the main event - the Castle Raids!

This is the stuff she was born for! She eagerly heads into the castles and temples to save her pals - shoot, she might even try to help a complete stranger, it's just that fun! But she does have actual expertise here - and even shows it when she suddenly puts her arm out in front of you, stopping you from going any further. ]

Haaaang on there, buddy. I think we're about to trip or activate something. Don't move another inch.

[ On the flipside, she actually doesn't mind being the hostage that much! It'll help you newbie adventurers get some good experience in rescuing! When you finally arrive to face the Final Boss(es?) of the area, she cheerfully waves from her position. ]

Hi, sweetie! Take your time, you're doing great! I know you can do it, I'm cheering you on!

[ The snake guards look a little annoyed at her cheerfulness. Could she at least act the part? ... And when did she free her arm from the ropes in order to wave?! ]

Quests

Heart Shaped Box

[ Opening something that refuses to be opened? Sounds simple enough. Della nods in affirmation, already having a plan. ]

All right, let me see if this works.

[ She then whips out her Dowsing Blade, intending to stab it open.

PLEASE STOP HER. ]

Apple For An Eye

[ For this quest, Della has no problem being the shooter or the one holding the target. If she's shooting, she may make some... questionable dialogue choices. ]

Huh, these things seem pretty rusty... ah well, shouldn't be too bad, right? Only way to know is to try!

[ On the other hand, if she's the one with the apple on her head, you're going to get lots of encouragement. Loooots of it. Maybe too much. ]

You got this! I have one-hundred-and-ten percent faith in you! This'll be easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

Temple Ruins
[ Once again, something that's part of the family business - exploring and adventuring! She's eager to search every nook and cranny for something hidden, but she can also be found fending off animals, or trying to stop conflicts between the bickering armadas. A mother's work is never done! ]

Wildcard
[ Make your own prompt! Feel free to plot with me at melcat33 for both plurk/discord! ]

Vine Traps

[wherethereislight]

[Della is going to hear a bunch of snake young'uns hissing and screaming down below as a few of them seem to be fleeing someone. That someone ends up being Shadow, walking into the area with a flame sword in his hand. He hasn't noticed Della had gotten caught in one of the traps, focused on dealing with the troublemakers causing them in the first place. They might have tried to do the same to him and he's a little pissed about that.]

Zelda | Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Paladin

[multidisciplinary]

[ Container for closed threads with Zelda. If we've plotted something for this event, feel free to either throw me a starter or wait for me to write one for you. I can be reached at knighted. ]

DRAGON EGG BATHS | CLOSED

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[For all of the things Darin has heard about and seen in this world, traveling to Ocard might have been the closest he'd ever felt to what his homeworld was like. Not that his world was overrun with dragons but Darin's dealt with one or two wyverns in his time. It's this boyish excitement that has him bringing Zelda to Ocard the first chance he can get, all the while telling her about the dragons of his world.]

[He'd never seen such magnificent creatures up close and already he's poking and prodding Zelda to take pictures of anything and everything on her Purah Pad while he frantically scribbles notes and sketches in his notebook.]

[They've only been here for half a day but there's already so much to see and do. But before they can begin their excited exploration anew, they need to recharge with some food. Which meant it was time to visit the marketplace and the food stalls!]

[Looking around like a boy at a fair, Darin does a few full turns as he walks, spinning to and fro as he tries to take in everything with wide eyes and an even wider grin.]

You know, I've been talking this whole time about my world, but does Hyrule have dragons??

Darin Altway | Original Character | Corsair

[forgeabettertomorrow]

1 HEART GEMS

[When presented with the opportunity to nab up some rare resources, you can bet that Darin's going to be there. And the haul he's pulling up is pretty impressive. How is he getting so many? Well, it helps that his super strength helps him tear through stone with relative ease. Unfortunately, he goes through mining tools like no one's business. Currently standing beside a knee-high pile of multi-colored heart-shaped gems, the sound of metal snapping cracks through the tunnel followed by a very colorful swear.]

Dammit! I might as well just use my bare hands for all the good these damn tools are! Geez!

[He decides to take a break. He's sweaty and covered in dirt and flecks of gemstone. He looks like he was the victim of a drive-by glitterbombing. He pours some water over his head, then takes a swig before admiring one of the quater-sized gems.]

...Wonder how they all manage to grow into a heart. Man, I think I could make some killer accessories out of these...!

2 LOVE NOODS

[Listen, if there's one thing you can count on, it's the fact that Darin will be at a festival if there's food or a food-related challenge. The man is huge and because his nigh inexhaustible stamina consumes so many calories, he can absolutely pack away the food. And there's nothing better than boosting stamina than carbs, right? So imagine his dismay when he sees that he can't eat a four pound bowl of delicious noodles all by his lonesome!]

What the hell do you mean I can't challenge this by myself?! Doesn't having a partner make it easier?! Ugh, whatever! Fine! Hey! You over there!

[Darin points dramatically at literally the closest person walking by.]

I got a question! Do you love noods?! If you do, come with me!

[No, he does not realize what that sounds like, he's hungry.

2 - i had to

[thearchangel]

... Darin.

I do not, nor have I ever, wanted to see any nudes involving you.

[You poor man. You poor blue-haired man. Chances were, Darin had been pointing at someone else entirely, but when you're seven foot tall, you can see pointing over people's heads.]

[Besides, that's his friend. His weird, old-man-mentality, friend. So why wouldn't - okay, no, why would he point at Garrus for "nudes".]

Lace Harding | Dragon Age: the Veilguard | Undecided | TDM

[eternalhymn]

🏹 a. ocard

[Harding has had a handful of days to get her sea legs before curiosity finally gets the better of her and she boards one of the ships from Eltrut bound for Ocard. The name of the festival alone had caught her attention— getting to know the local culture was an important part of traveling anywhere, and one of the first things she did anytime she found herself somewhere unfamiliar, all the way back to her earliest days as a scout. Given the situation, she thought she was prepared to hear just about anything as she prodded around for information, but even her open-minded approach to this world beyond the rifts wasn't enough to prepare her for the fact that the Dragon's Gale would be held by actual dragons.

Dragons. Real, live dragons— which she's seen before, even recently fought, but these sounded like they were different from the ones she'd grown up hearing about. These dragons were sentient, enough to put together a whole festival and to invite people from all over to come join them. She can only imagine the look on Rook's face, hearing something like that. Taash would have been thrilled, having a far better understanding of and appreciation for their own world's dragons than any of the rest of their crew could ever hope to.

Even knowing that Ocard was peopled by dragons ahead of time, nothing could have been enough to prepare her for what she sees when the boat arrives. There's a definite sense of awe that comes over her as she alights from the ship, unprepared for just how many dragons there would be, numbers far beyond her imagining.]

This is... it's incredible.

[The dwarven woman can't help smiling to herself as she exhales, a hand propped against her hip as she comes to a stop some distance away from a crop of festival stalls being run by snakefolk, her gaze moving upwards as a pair of air dragons fly overhead towards the heart of the festival grounds.]

I've never even imagined so many dragons in one place. Wait until everyone back home hears about this— hard to imagine any of our dragons extending an invitation like this.

[Maybe she should think about keeping an eye out for souvenirs?]

🏹 b. swamp ingredients

[Plants and potions are something that Harding happens to know a whole lot about, so when the opportunity comes to go out foraging, she's quick to volunteer herself. While she could confidently navigate the swamp alone, it seems like an unnecessary risk, not to mention defeats the point of getting out to learn the lay of the land and meet people.

She's quick to offer herself up as a partner, motioning to the bow and quiver of arrows secured to her back by jerking her thumb over her shoulder.]

Don't worry. I might be short, but I'll be able to catch anything that tries to sneak up on us.

[Anything that tries will quickly wish it hadn't. Hello, potential new friend!]

Did you grab a pair of gloves? Just as an extra precaution against anything toxic we might come across.

[Swamp adventure, let's go!]

🏹 c. spicy noods

[All of the other festival activities are more than enough to work up a monstrous appetite, and Harding has always been able to eat more than her size would suggest— a common dwarven trait— but even so, her eyes widen as the bowl she'd requested is set down before her.]

They weren't kidding, this thing is huge.

[Well, she'd agreed to the challenge— she's not about to back out now, and the whole thing both looks and smells absolutely delicious. She shrugs as she reaches for her mug and holds it up to whoever happens to be sitting across from her.]

Hey— best of luck to you!

🏹 d. wildcard

[Dealer's choice! Harding is good for any of the activities at the Dragon's Gale or the castle raids, so if none of the above work for you, feel free to go wild or PM me to work something out together.]

ocard

[weishappened]

[An eye for souvenirs, and maybe an eye for more flying things than just dragons. Granted, there's mostly dragons. There's a lot of dragons. But also? Something - someone? - fluffier. Who has definitely spied Harding first.]

[Thankfully, he's trying to be a Good Boy, so he will not dive out of the sky at her. A few feet away, yes, sure. There's no people there to accidentally tackle if he fumbles the landing a little. Which... he does. He's learning. He'll get there.]

[Hello Harding, Assan is here. He's rambling up to meet you, and chattering like an excited hawk.]

Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik | Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW) | Corsair

[reneggadetinkerer]

1 SWAMP INGREDIENTS

[Miserable. Odious. Disgusting. These are just a handful of the words running through the good doctor's mind as he trudges through this horrible swamp. Eggman had taken a passing interest in the mysticism of this world and the opportunity to study potions and poisons seemed too good to pass up. While he wasn't about to go and create a new metal virus, perhaps he could build an inventory of potions that could suit his needs? It's not exactly the type of science he prefers but he'd be a fool to ignore a possible advantage when he was beset upon by hedgehogs at seemingly every turn.]

[He hadn't realize just how much he'd taken his machines and minions for granted. Having to trudge through the quagmires and the muck without the convenience of his Egg Mobile really put into perspective how much he relied on them. Maybe when this was over and he was either ruling this world or his original one, he could treat them a little better.]

[Nah.]

[He heaves a sweaty sigh and wipes his brow before spying a large pitcher-like plant.]

Ah, finally! Apparently the nectar in this plant makes for a potent anesthetic. Now, I just need a sample or five...

[The pitcher plant is about the size of an adult man and Eggman appears to be brushing his fingers through his wilting mustache while he considers just how to go about getting the sample.]

2 MAZE

You there! For someone who was so adamant about tagging along, the least you can do is keep up!

[Whether or not you decided to 'tag along' with Eggman or simply fell into step within his vicinity, he's just going to assume you're following him because it's his genius who will be leading you to safety. Hands clasped behind his back, Eggman marches along, mumbling to himself. You can try to talk to him, but he'll either snap at you or ignore you completely.]

[That is, until he stops cold.]

New plan. You, I need you to move ahead of me by ten— no...eight paces. No more, no less. And when I instruct you to, stop. Am I clear?

[You could listen to him but...why would you want to?]

2

[wherethereislight]

[Definitely choosing not to listen. You don't have enough pokemon badges for that. He just happen to be in the same place as the Doctor, much to his annoyance. Now he has to think about not taking him out where he stands, which their constant demands are not helping. He ignores all of them, adjusting a bag he brought with him and continuing to walk on ahead. Why don't you keep up, Doctor?]

Garrus Vakarian | Mass Effect | Paladin | OTA

[thearchangel]

🥚 Dragon egg baths;
Finally. Warmth.

Finally, being outdoors doesn't make him feel like he's going to shiver himself to pieces, or that his scales won't freeze off. Like icicles are forming on his mandibles. The fact he's up to his cowl in a hot spring probably has a lot to do with it. The dragons don't seem to mind. They just casually hand over an egg or two occasionally for him to settle in the water. No problem there. It's kind of a comical sight to see him emerge, and then sink back down again, head tilted back, eyes shut.

Anyone approaching gets him to sit up again, almost looking guilty.

"I... think we're supposed to be watching the eggs, but. Couldn't resist a nap." A beat. "It's actually comfortable in here."


🍾 Swamp Ingredients;
Well, to be fair, the swamp isn't that bad either. It's not as nice as the hot spring, but, it's warm, it's humid, and he's moving. He's in action. Doing something. Relaxing was nice after the icy chill of last month, but he's not made for downtime. Too much of it, anyway. Granted, he's no botanist. But he's got a rifle, he's tall, armored, and experienced. The plants all look the same to him.

"So how do we know what we're looking for?"

As he nudges some spiraling, ivy-looking plant with the muzzle of his rifle, skeptically. One of the leaves twitches, slapping at the weapon, and Garrus pulls it back with a noise of surprise.

"Are plants supposed to do that?"


🍝 Spicy noods;
"Oh this should be good."

Spicy? Bet. The recent revelation that his mouth is, apparently, not able to taste the spice they use here, has done a hell of a lot to boost his ego. And, therefore, his confidence about this challenge. The turian has his arms casually slung over the back of his chair, head canted in a pose of utmost casual composure. If he were human, he'd have a lopsided grin on his scarred face.

At least until the actual bowl shows up. It's a lot bigger than he expected it to be. His face doesn't really fall so much as relaxes, but, if you know him well enough, you can see the sudden onset of dismay. Still, he tries his best to wrangle that previous assurance back again.

"Right. Not a problem. This is easy enough."


✨ wildcard;
( Anything else? Hit him up! Open to all the gen options. )

egg baths

[netherese]

The sight that awaits Gale as he approaches the pool with an egg of his own gently tucked beneath his arm and against his abdomen is quite amusing, indeed, and he chuckles warmly as he proceeds to wrap his egg in a towel and set it down beside the spring so that he can sit and begin to relieve himself of his boots.

"I admit, knowing how pleasant a soak in the springs can be is a large part of why I volunteered," he says brightly, though there's a decided weariness about his expression even as he offers the turian a smile. There's no mistaking Garrus even if they haven't spent any extended time together in person; he rather stands out amongst their fellow paladins.

"There's no saying we can't relax while keeping an eye on the eggs. Is this your first time?"

Davrin | Dragonage Veilguard | Paladin - OTA

[weishappened]

🌿 SWAMP ADVENTURES
Davrin really shines here. As before, in the wilderness of cold and snow, he's one of the first people out. With his trusty griffon, of course, because there's no way in hell Assan is going to stop being glued to his side while no one else familiar is here. It's harder for Assan to move through the undergrowth, so he's generally up above, gliding from tree to tree, while Davrin forges below.

Anyone with him will probably be the one gathering plants and ingredients. The Grey Warden is keeping his eyes peeled for danger, be it animals, Corsairs, hostile snake people... or even the plants themselves. Not to mention a special quarry.

"I hear they're holding a contest for who can bring in the biggest catch," he says, casually enough. His eyes are everywhere on the trees, the bushes. "A hunting challenge for their feast."

In other words, Davrin absolutely has ulterior motives for being out here, and he's not shy about them.


🐍 Wooden snake carvings
And, what would this man be without his trusty carving knife? Wood carving knife, don't make it weird. He doesn't have a partner, unfortunately, so his fingers are itching to get in on the action. Does it work for friends? New friends? Honestly, he doesn't mind either way, he just wants to take on the carving challenge.

"Think they'll notice if we pretend we're an item?"

It doesn't matter who he says this two - man, woman, or neither. Look, he just wants to make a cool wood sculpture. And he's very, very good at it.


🥇 Golden snake bangles
"I'm not really a fan of jewelry - "

He was trying to turn the snake person down gently. He really, really was. But they insisted. And now he has a very shiny, very bangle-y bracelet on one arm. He has half a mind to take it off and hand it over to Assan to play with.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, when he does move to pull on it, someone happens to walk by. Someone else with a bangle. And just like that, Davrin finds himself with a fancy handcuff, attached to the poor individual.

"... Right. Of course they're cursed."


💕 Love noods
"You do mean noodles, right?"

He just has to ask. But there's a note of amusement in the question, all the same. Like this is a lot funnier than he expected it to be. Which to him, it sort of is. He knows a few people who would get a kick out of that name... and it's a shame they're not here. He's feeling that pretty keenly, lately. Regardless, since this needs a partner, Davrin has no issue with sitting with a random person for this. Doesn't bother him in the least.

"You ready for this? Looks like fancy chicken soup. Should be easy."


✨ wildcard;
( Anything else? Hit him up! Open to all the gen options, romance prefer adults (21+). )

Swamp Adventures

[celestialsun]

Tail wag, tail wag— Oho, a contest was it?

Even in the swamps, that fur coat remined pristine and white as the wolf had padded up next to Darvin after sniffing around. The dampness not one to keep her out of it when there was a sense of adventure and challenge calling. So there was a bark, surprisingly soft, as she looked up at him and head tilted to one side. Ears perked.

The feast part had also caught her attention of course. Big beast brought in, bigger feast? The cooking she had passed by before had smelled divine...

Ken Takakura | Dandadan | Corsairs

[ventego]

ocard venus vine traps

🌿

[ Deep in the swamp, a sudden disturbance spooks the usually vocal wildlife into silence. From behind, and gaining at absurd speeds, something is rapidly approaching Your Location.

The first brief glimpse of the threat would be enough to turn anyone's blood ice cold: bursting through the foliage, bare feet slapping on the muddy ground, is a grotesque mimicry of a human figure. Everything about it is too long, limbs and grasping fingers stretched thin as it claws the air in its path, an angular black mouth covering its entire lower jaw in a toothy grin. Betime you see the sickly grey skin and the shock of white hair, it's upon you and--

with a couple of small "hup" noises, The Thing completely bypasses you, hopping from one tree trunk to the next before gracefully somersaulting back onto the ground and resuming its path through the swamp.

Or it would, if it could.

Not ten feet from where the entity gracefully avoided a collision, it's yanked off its feet with a loud SNAP, forward momentum swinging it wildly back and forth as it dangles from the vine trap ensnared around its ankle. A pair of large, round glasses fall into the mud and the figure lets out a deep, world-weary sigh. ]

Damn... this place is a major buzzkill. Makes me limp.

ocard catfishing

🐡

[ Following his Valentine's-approximate date, Okarun is on a tight budget for the rest of the month. Hearing about Ocard's catfish, and how delicious they are simply roasted over a fire, Okarun can't pass up an opportunity for a decent free meal - boy needs to keep his energy up while there's an abundance of work to be done.

The issue is that Okarun has never fished a day in his life. He doesn't have the equipment, nor the experience, to use a rod or a net, and his hands are proving inadequate as he stands in the knee-deep water with his trousers rolled up to his thighs. Even in his Turbo form, his speed turned out to be a curse when the fish just squeezed right out of his hands.

He's resorted to using his jacket as a makeshift-net, hunched over with his brows knitted together and his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth. He just needs one fish - that'll be enough to feed him for the entire day. ]

Come on... And... NOW-!

[ "O~ka~ru~n~"

A playful, feminine voice startles Okarun, his back snapping straight as he quickly looks around. His jacket has slipped from his fingers, sailing downstream with the current, but that's not important right now. ]

Miss Ayase..!?

[ "Hey, hey, Okarun~ Isn't Zuma cool? He's totally my type~" ]

E-eh? Ah, but I thought-

[ "He reminds me of Ken Takakura... Aaah, so dreamy~!"

Staring at the horizon with a dazed expression, Okarun doesn't notice the catfish swimming against the current directly behind him. So that's how it is, huh? He should have known... ]

ocard egg thieves

🥚

Hey... Hey wait--!

[ Shrouded in black fabric, a person with a bulging fabric sack streaks out onto the street. Unconcerned with obstacles in their path, they body-check anyone and everyone in their escape trajectory, alarmed and furious voices following in their wake as people are knocked to the ground.

Okarun darts into view, trying to keep the mystery figure in his sight. Hopping on one foot, he tries to pull his shoe off but stumbles and has to move to lean against a wall for better support. As he continues his bizarre ritual, he calls out in the hopes someone is able to intervene before they can slip out of town: ]

They're a dragon egg thief!!

dragon's gale golden snake bangles

🥇

[ Much like the dragons being celebrated at this event, Okarun is weak to pretty trinkets and shiny things. Granted, they're not usually intended for himself, but he is currently walking around with one of the golden snake bangles clasped to his wrist. It's a nice, snug fit - little risk of him losing it during the festivities.

In a half-transformed state, he is recognisably Okarun but more... ill-looking, his skin a pallid grey. Two red bands run from forehead to cheek, one through each eye, and his hair is white with red streaks, billowing behind him like a windswept fire. There's been an insane number of egg theft attempts, and he's been putting his powers to good use chasing people down. It makes sense to him to hold his transformation part-way, so he can spring into action quickly, plus it's good endurance training, right?

Whether they want to say hi, or ask what the hell is up with his zombie-looking-ass, people who get too close while wearing a matching golden bangle are in for a mutual surprise~! ]

dragon's gale snake fight

🤜

[ It was only a matter of time before Okarun caught the attention of the more rowdy snakefolk, who deem him a worthy challenger based on his repeated display of speed and agility. Having challenged him while he was fully-transformed, his melancholic attitude was mistaken as veneration to the snakes - he's a worthless guy, he'll just die, etc, etc.

And so, in an attempt to sweeten the deal, a 2v2 match was offered. Hope you weren't looking forward to showing your skills off as a solo act, because you've been roped into babysitting a lanky edgelord in a fight against two venom snakefolk.

Squatting in the arena, his back hunched and knuckles brushing against the floor, the stretched-out Okarun sighs, and in a deep, deadpan voice states: ]

Sorry about this. I should just curl up and die, yo.

[ He's been saying this kind of thing for a while now, and clearly has zero intention of following through. ]

manta yarr-spar

🤺

You want me to go first? Okay, um...

[ There's not a day goes by where Okarun doesn't wonder why he was assigned to be a Corsair. He's quiet, and shy... and, as is being demonstrated in this lesson, has the spine of a jellyfish when it comes to verbal sparring. ]

I-i once owned a dog that was smarter than you...

[ He adjusts his glasses, and after a small pause adds: ]

I'm sorry, that was really mean.

... etc, etc~

Want to plot something else? Ping me in the discord @ jelliefishing or message me on Plurk @ cardboardcastles!

Manta

[scooba]

[In his pursuit of trying to break out of his own comfort, he wanted to see if he could attempt to insult someone. Of course, given who Freminet was, that was a very tall order. He was already a quiet and shy person. He couldn't bring himself to really hurt anyone's feelings.

Mumbling to himself, he just...didn't know what to say back.]

Uh...that's okay. It's all in good fun, right?

[He said with a small pause or two. How was he even suppose to do this?]

I'm sorry but...you fight like a daisy?

Kolnatha Shavval ☾ Forgotten Realms ☾ Corsairs

[inherlight]

1-A ☾ Dragon egg baths

[Helping baby dragon eggs to ensure that they are happy and healthy? She was no druid but this was definitely in her wheelhouse of skills serving as a cleric. And she could never turn down someone in need. The task seemed simple enough. Gather the eggs and take them to be washed down by the springs. Maybe take a break to dip her toes into the warm water. What could go wrong?

Gingerly carrying two eggs at a time, she glanced over to someone else near by.]

Can you lend me a hand? There’s a couple more eggs to grab.

2-B ☾ Golden Snake Bangles

Oh? For me? That’s so thoughtful.

[The drow beams as she was offered a pair of golden snake bangles by one of the island inhabitants. Even though she was not one for much jewelry, aside from the silver earrings she wore, it was quite rare for her to receive such a warm welcome. So it never crossed her mind that there was more to the gift she was given.

Slipping the bracelet on, Koh weaved through the crowded street. So much was going on, so much to see-

Clink!

As she was rounding a corner, she felt her shield arm get yanked behind her, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Whipping her head around she saw that the golden band was affixed to someone else who was passing by. Giving it a small tug, the bangles refused to budge. Ooof course there was a catch.

Looking up apologetically, the drow gave a small bow of her head to the unlucky soul.]

Well this is a bit of a problem, isn’t it?

3-C ☾ Underground Caverns: Hunt for the Keys

[Ah yes, back into her element. It felt like an age since she was able to delve some dungeons. Koh wasn’t solely in it for the treasure, more for the challenge of keeping her skills sharp. As she was wondering about the festival, she couldn’t help but overhear whispers of golden keys hidden in dragon hoards here on this island. Curiosity got the better of her, striking out to see if she couldn’t track one down.

And where does she choose to search? Down in the underground caverns. Even though she had adjusted to life on the Surface, there was still a part of her that found comfort down in the dark. Especially here where traveling by ship provided little shade from the bright rays of the sun. She didn’t realize how much her sensitive eyes were strained until she stepped foot in the depths of the cave opening. It was like a cool rag was placed over her temples. The drow would see as clear as day down in the deep, even without a source of light. Turning to her adventuring companion, she adds.]

Stay close to me. You never know what might be lurking down here.

4-D ☾ Save the Last Dance

[Upon hearing there was a traveling swordsman, Koh jumped on the opportunity to track the man down. While she is a cleric by trade, she had been trained to wield a sword ever since she could hold one. Swords hold a more special meaning to her now, being a holy symbol of her faith. Though she was not a Sword Dancer, she had known quite a few back when she lived at the temple. Enamored by them, they fought with such grace and beauty. So if she had a chance of doing a little dancing swordplay? She was all in.

But her hopes were quickly dashed as she was informed that this was a pairs training session. Which… made some level of sense. Not willing to give up so soon, she looked around for a partner.]

Hello, excuse me. Sorry to be a bother but you wouldn’t happen to know how to use a sword, would you?

5-E ☾ Wild Card

[There was so much that I wanted to do, but I was trying to be good and not write a whole bunch. So if there is anything else people want to do, please let me know. You can DM here or my plurk is goddessofsugar.]

Hunt for the Keys

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

[Lyney's heard about the hunt for the keys himself, and it's definitely intrigued him. What is this about Sarht's Heart? Whatever it is, the amount of mystery and secrecy surrounding it has set off his own instincts, making him more than willing to dive into the castle raid festivities this year.]

[While he'd usually take on such missions alone or with a trusted ally, having a partner who seems rather capable here isn't so bad. As they make their way through the caverns he offers her a nod.]

Of course. While the dragons claimed to have cleared out the tunnels for us to use, it never hurts to be careful.

[He honestly doesn't look like much of an adventurer; in fact, Lyney's outfit is more suited to stage performances than spelunking. But the way he maneuvers through the caverns hints at a skill borne from experience one wouldn't get if they stuck to merely show business.]

Lyney || Genshin Impact || Corsairs (OTA)

[spectacleofphantasmagoria]

Golden Snake Bangles
[These snake bangles are quite gorgeous, and Lyney had been admiring the lovely golden sheen on his wrist since he was given the gracious gift. However, now that he’s suddenly been tugged over by the bangle towards someone else and has effectively been bound by the wrist to them, he’s starting to have second thoughts. He tugs experimentally, but nope, the bangle is quite effectively tied. He clicks his tongue, shaking his head.]

Well now, as a magician, not being able to escape from these cuffs is quite embarrassing..! I guess we’ll have to be partners for the foreseeable future until we sort this out.

Fire Massage
[Oh, Lyney would absolutely love a massage right now. Who cares if it’s advertised as a couple’s massage, his stiff muscles are in dire need of some tension-loosening. So he’ll make his way over to anyone else eying the massage booths, a friendly grin on his face.]

The sound of a massage given by snake people is quite exciting, isn’t it? Are you wanting to get one as well? If you’d like, we could go together!

Drinking Challenge
[Of course the food is delectable at Dragon’s Gale, Lyney remembers it being so last year. But this time, he finds himself challenged by some rowdy young dragons to a drinking contest, one which he has graciously accepted. It’s surprising how well he seems to be holding himself, downing another glass of amber-coloured liquid with a satisfying breath.]

Ah! That one sure was a strong one! I could go for another, couldn’t you??

[He’s certainly gotten the attention of the other dragonfolk, but how could any human be handling the strong dragon ales so well? It’s hard to tell, but those with keen eyes may notice how, with some quick sleight of hand, Lyney seems to be swapping drinks to some less-alcohol-forward ones. The trick seems to be working for now, but how long will it last?]

Castle Raids
[Lyney also remembers the castle raids from last year, and has opted to join in again this time. He has his bow in hand as he makes his way through the maze-like corridors, a playful grin on his face as he makes his way through… though at one point he’ll extend his hand out to stop whoever he’s with from going further.]

Careful now… do you see there?

[It’s incredibly small and well-hidden, but Lyney points out to a very faint tripwire right in the middle of their path.]

We’d best be careful. The dragons are especially crafty this year.

Castle Raids - Golden Keys
[Of course, while taking part in the castle raids, he’ll also opt to take part in being dragon-napped this year as well. Though locked away as a part of this particular dragon’s hoard, he will eventually turn to whoever he’s trapped with, striking up casual conversation.]

Say now, have you heard of these golden keys that some of the snakefolk have been mentioning?

[He reaches into his pocket to pull out one of the aforementioned golden keys that he’d found on the way here, flicking it in between his hands before it vanishes from sight.]

Since the dragons seem so keen on protecting them, there’s a good chance there’d be a bunch in this hoard, right? And since we have nothing better to do while we wait, shall we do a little investigating?

Wildcard
[Got an idea for a prompt? Feel free to write your own starter, or send me a DM so we can plan something out!]

Castle raids

[knightmaid]

Oh! You have good eyes to spot that.

[Speaking of the hidden wire, Noelle is a little ashamed that she didn't catch it. Being a maid and knight in training, such details wouldn't normally escape her.

But Lyney is a magician, so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.]

I wouldn't think that dragons were capable of crafting something that small and easy to miss.

[They're supposed to be big critters after all, right?]

Nanaki/Red XIII || Final Fantasy VII || Paladins (OTA)

[feralhumanity]

Swamp Ingredients
[While the swamps aren’t the easiest to traverse on four legs, Nanaki’s nose is strong enough to scent out ingredients in the boggy wetlands around him, and so he has no problem hunting through the swamp for the needed ingredients. The only problem is that he has no safe way to pick up any of the ingredients himself (as he’s not about to pick a poisonous plant with his teeth), so he will need to team up with someone in order to effectively collect them. Still, he doesn’t mind acting as a guide through the swamp for another to help him gather the toxic plants.]

[As he and his partner make their way through, he’ll take some time to glance back over his shoulder at them.]

Man, this stuff’s really gross on my paws… how’re you holding up?

Venus Vine Traps
[Childish humour is certainly to be expected, but it’s best not done at the expense of others. That’s Nanaki’s expectation as he attempts to locate the two young plant snakefolk who have been causing such a ruckus. Unfortunately, it appears he’s triggered one of their traps, and has been tossed up into the air by vines. Though he struggles, his paws are helplessly tangled as he hangs at a slight angle. Ears flat, he has to wait until someone walks by to free him.]

Hey! A little help??

Flower Gardens
[This flower garden may be intended for a couple’s walk, but who wouldn’t want to take a stroll through a beautiful flower garden? Nanaki enjoys the fresh scent of them, and sniffs at the flowers as he pads through the garden.]

They’re all so pretty, aren’t they? I have a friend who’d really like this place…

[Even if the flowers make him feel a little sad about missing Aerith, they’re still pretty to look at. Though, at one point he seems to stumble across the drowsy-inducing flowers, for he can be found curled up and sleeping peacefully under a bush of flowers that look almost like dreamy clouds.]

Dragon’s Gale Feast
[The idea of hunting for something to bring back to the feast stirs something primal and feral within Nanaki, and he wastes no time signing up for the contest. For others who also want to try their hand at hunting, he’ll offer them an eager grin and a wag of his tail.]

Come on! Together we can hunt the biggest beast out there! My mouth’s already watering thinking about it!

[Of course, whether or not he actually succeeds in bringing back the biggest animal back for the feast, he’ll be back in time for the main courses, stuffing his face full of roasted meat with a barely-contained excitement, tail wagging fiercely. His weakness happens to be cooked meat, after all…]

Snake Fight
[The fighting rings sounded pretty interesting, and the idea of fighting something possibly stronger than the dragons is pretty exciting. Nanaki’s claws are itching for a fight as he waits for his turn against two snakefolk, one an expert at illusions and the other looking like a skilled warrior wielding two blades. He flexes his paws on the ground and swishes his tail, glancing at his own partner.]

Take care. These two won’t be an easy fight.

Wildcard
[Got an idea for a prompt? Feel free to write your own starter, or send me a DM so we can plan something out!]

dragon's gale feast!

[starshower]

[When the opportunity had struck to pair up with Red on the hunt, of course Tifa would leap at the opportunity to grab it. It's not often the two of them get the chance to do something like this together, and with his nose and her cooking skills on their side, she thinks that they at least stand a chance to catch something—if not something ginormous, then something that has the potential to be delicious.]

What do you think we might find?

[As they set out into the forests of Ocard, leaving the festivities behind for quieter, sun-mottled paths of green.]

Maybe a giant boar? Or... what if we found a plant monster?

Kieran || Pokemon Scarlet & Violet || Corsairs (OTA)

[ohwowzers]

Dragon Egg Baths
[Kieran’s taken classes on egg breeding with Pokemon back at Blueberry Academy, and knows all about Pokemon eggs and how to breed stronger Pokemon. But washing the eggs is something he’s never even heard of. So here he is, sitting on the edge of a hot spring with his feet in the water as he gently scrubs at the eggshells.]

Is this really supposed to help he baby dragons before they hatch? I’ve never heard of this before…

[Meanwhile, Dragonite has come out of his Pokeball to help keep an eye on some of the eggs not currently getting a bath. It seems awfully protective of those eggs, with its tail curled around them. Who knew the big dragon was such a softie?]

Wooden Snake Carvings
[While the snake carving activity is supposed to be done in pairs, Kieran is sitting all on his own, intently focused on the little carving he’s working on. He seems to all but have tuned out the world around him, and is quite careful in how he carves the wood into the figure of a snake-like creature. It’s actually coming across quite nicely, and even though he’s cautious with his movements there’s some obvious technique being employed here in Kieran’s carving and in how he handles his carving knife, flicking away bits of wood to reveal the serpent within.]

[So focused is he on his little carving, he may not actually notice anyone around him until they directly sit in front of him, or speak to him directly. When they do he jumps, surprise plain on his face before he fidgets awkwardly.]

Oh, uh… sorry, I didn’t notice ya. Um… what were you sayin’?

Love Noods
[Kieran’s been staring at the Love Noods challenge, eying the tasty-looking bowl of noodles and broth. The scent is heavenly, and it’s making his mouth water; it’s been a while since he’s had some good ramen. But the challenge says that it has to be done in pairs, and he doesn’t know anyone here well enough to ask them to join him. Is it another couples thing? His shoulders slump as he tugs on the loose strand of his hair.]

Aw, man…

[He really wants to try them… but he is way too shy to ask anyone to join him. He might need some help doing so.]

Dragon’s Kiss
[Sure all the fun and games looked rather fun, and sure this is supposed to be a festival celebrating love and dragons and all that, but a kissing booth for dragons? Kieran gapes at the challenge stand, looking completely dumbfounded.]

T-They aren’t serious, are they?? Would people really do that??

[Evidently so, and are even getting prizes for it! Kieran just stares, baffled.]

This is so weird…

Dragon Croissant
[With as massive of a sweet tooth as Kieran has, of course he’d be drawn to the adorable little dragon croissants. He’s never had a croissant, and the fact that they’re shaped like tiny dragons is really cute. And they taste as good as they look, the one he grabbed being rich and chocolatey and delicious. Initially, he had no regrets with his choice of festival treat.]

[However, he’s having regrets now as he’s suddenly found himself sporting a pair of wings, a tail, and two tiny horns on his head. His fingers have also developed dragon-like claws, which are currently running through his hair in his mild panic.]

Oh man, oh man, what the heck happened..?? Aah…!

[He may need some help calming down, he’s not used to such bizarre things yet.]

Wildcard
[Got an idea for a prompt? Feel free to write your own starter, or send me a DM so we can plan something out!]

Dragon Egg Baths

[sos_pilot]

[ Compared to the zany Della Kieran has seen, this Della is a bit more... subdued. Peaceful, content.

She's washing her share of the eggs with a happy hum and a blissful expression on her face. The humming only stops when the question pops up, and even her voice is a bit softer this time around. ]

Hm? ... Oh, yeah. Washing the eggs is really important, no matter what world or what egg you have. Some need it more than others. Plus, I bet the little guys inside are appreciating all the care we're doing.

Leona Kingscholar | Twisted Wonderland | Corsair

[sunsetking]

[This is a top level for closed threads. Feel free to hit me up at seabutterfly if you want to thread something out!]

Closed to Claude

[sunsetking]

[Leona isn't really sure how he got involved in this. For that matter, he's not even sure why he got involved in this. He's not a big fan of reptiles for many reasons (most stemming from a certain dragon prince back home), but even he can admit this is ridiculous. Leona being kidnapped and brought somewhere just screams too much of a certain situation that he doesn't want to think about.

It reminds him too much of the stories he's read once as a young cub.

Even so, now he finds himself in some kind of room. Not quite the dungeons, but one that doesn't have much in it either. There's naturally a window, but even Leona isn't going to quite risk it upon seeing how high he actually is. So? What does he do in this scenario? Find a corner to sleep in and wait until the dragon gets bored and realize that no one isn't going to make much of an effort to come 'rescue' him. At least he'll get some proper napping done in the meantime.]

Shizuo Heiwajima | Durarara!! | Paladin | TDM

[hatesviolence]

🛑 I. HEART GEMS

[Honestly, he isn't sure how he got here...he was just wandering around wondering what the hell was around this place and somehow found himself in this cave.]

...Ah.

[He...hadn't meant to, but when he was just trying to pluck out a gem, it was a little stuck so he just put a little more force to it and... ...]

...Anyone want these?

[...Managed to just pull out a sizable chunk of the wall, a few heart gems coming along with it. Changing his hold so that he's more carefully holding the large chunk, he frowns a bit.]

Is this really safe...if the earth is that loose, what if this place caves in...?

[No, Shizuo, you just managed to pull out a hunk of rock on your own.]

🛑 II. GARDEN INGREDIENTS

[He didn't think he'd be helping a snake, but the one who asked him was actually pretty nice and friendly, and it was just in the flower garden so...shouldn't be too bad? He could take some time to walk through and just kind of chill.

The problem?]

...What do chamomile flowers look like...shit, I should have asked.

[He's a bit troubled because he has no idea what to look for and he doesn't know who to ask...uh, maybe this person over here?? (ie, you)]

Hey, do you know what any of these flowers are?

🛑 III. DRAGON EGGS

[Although he was part of the Paladin group (and he still doesn't really know what this all means, part of a military?? Gang?? What???), he had heard something about dragon eggs being stolen. Since it seemed like the other armada was supposed to handle it he wasn't going to interfere, but...]

Tsk. Lowlife scums stealing kids...!!

[Because that's what these eggs are supposed to be when they hatch right? ...Or are these like chicken eggs? ...Do all dragon eggs hatch or are some duds? Well, whatever, shouldn't be stolen!!!

Anyway, just outside of town, he's flung someone high up into the air, and if that person's screaming didn't catch anyone's attention, the sound of the brawl that's about to break out will. But it's fine, he's fine, he'll just pull up this small tree and start swinging it around at the others that start rushing at him with their own weapons. Still...could probably use some help???]

🛑 IV. OH BARNACLES

[Still at a loss as to what he should be doing in this strange new world, Shizuo decides that he could at least try and be useful. And hey, since this place is filled with...interesting people, maybe his strength would actually be handy? So seeing some people trying to pry off some barnacles, Shizuo looks around, grabs a shovel, and...]

...Too hard, huh.

[He thought it was just a little tap because he wanted to see how stuck on these barnacles were, but it was enough to break a large chunk of the barnacle off right away.]

...Shit. If I'm not careful might rip a hole through the ship.

[Oh this is going to be a challenge, but he's going to try!! Maybe he'll just uh. Do his best to loosen and tackle the hard ones so others can scrape off the rest...]

🛑 V. WILDCARD

[Open to any other prompts! BEEN A WHILE so probably super rusty. Feel free to hit me up on laenavesse or on discord for any questions or other ideas! And yes he's wearing his bartender uniform after he got it out of the chest, but he'll probably wear different clothes later so as not to ruin this precious keepsake.]

II

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock attempted to distract himself from all the amorous goings-on by doing some studies of the flowers. He sits on the ground before the blooms and either sketches them in his casebook with a detailed hand or examines them with his magnifying glass. He doesn't look up when he's addressed, but he does at least answer. ]

I am familiar with a number of them. Is there one in particular you want to know about?

Basil | Omori| Undecided | TDM

[photographists]

a. getting started

( Luckily, Basil finds himself in a random room rather than in the water. Considering that he can't swim, that's for the best. Still, for someone who is very much used to a normal routine, this isn't where he expected to be. He keeps to himself, fingers folding together nervously as he looks around before he moves to start to open the door.

It's only when he sees that doorknob begin to turn that he freezes up, eyes widening as he quickly withdraws.

This is a dream. It has to be. No one just leaves their home out of no where. At any moment now, he'll wake up and he'll be in the hospital where he should be. Maybe even what happened before now is a bad dream, and he'll find himself in the comfort of his own bed, and he'll be able to takes care of the flowers as usual.

Still, despite his thoughts, he hesitantly speaks. )

H... Hello...?

( It'll be okay. No matter who's on the other side, everything will be okay. )

b. Island of dragons

( For the most part, Basil keeps his distance from anything concerning the dragons. It's difficult to believe that not only all of this is happening, but there's the fact that there are dragons rumored to be on the island. Back at home, there were lizards that could be referred to dragons in a way, but it wasn't as though they were the fire breathing kind that's seen in comics or television...

He doesn't realize that anyone is nearby when he speaks, looking to the sky as though expecting to see something at any moment despite it all. )

Are there really dragons here...? I-It's a little silly to even think of...

c. flower garden

( It's not uncommon for Basil to be drawn to flowers. Gardens like the one found on the island feel like home to him – it's a place where he always feels as though he can be at peace. And so, he's taking the time to look around, quietly naming the flowers as he does so.

At some point, he may end up getting a bit too close to the flowers, but he's careful the same. He doesn't want to hurt the flora, after all. )

Oh, that's--

A dahlia... and orchids, too. They're really pretty...!

( At this point, approaching him may make him a bit jumpy, but he wouldn't say no to any company either. )

d. wildcard

( feel free to pm me to plot for any other prompt )

B. Island of Dragons

[inherlight]

[Over the crowd, a young boy caught the drow's eyes. Standing there with his gaze pull skyward in wonder he looked a bit out of place. Was the boy lost? New perhaps? Making her way over, she joins him in observing the dragons sailing over head.]

Beautiful creatures, are they not? [She smiles slightly to herself as her eyes shifted down to give the boy a side ways glance.] Is it your first time seeing them?

Miles "Tails" Prower | Sonic (IDW) | Corsair | TDM

[playertwotailed]

1. ARRIVAL — WHAT A SUPPLIES TO SEE YOU HERE

[Somewhere, below the decks of the Stormbringer, there is a knocking coming from the inside of a supply closet. The raps come from lower than you might expect, not even at the hip level of a typical adult human. Soon after, it's followed by a muffled voice mdash; young, male, with a little rasp to it —]

Hello~oo? Can anyone out there hear me? I could use a hand getting out of here!

[And on the other side of the door, the owner of the voice puts his big fox ear to the door, listening for a response. Nothing! This area must not see a lot of foot traffic. Certainly not within the short range that his voice is carrying, which was small enough before it was being muted by the thick material of the door.]

[Tails has no idea how he ended up in this predicament. What he's been able to piece together is that he's on some sort of a ship, buried in a supply closet with no light source, deep but cluttered enough that it's difficult to move around in. The door of the closet is sticking — a moderate nuisance for anyone attempting to open it from the outside, easily overcome with a strong stance and some brute force. A quick adjustment of the hinges could fix it! But the door opens away from him, meaning those hinges are on the other side. And he's not sure if there's any tools to be found in here, anyway.]

[As for brute force... well, there is one option.]

Let's see... [There's a few taps on the door, as Tails starts figuring out the material. From there, he calculates the weight, center of gravity, tension on the hinges... within moments, he's worked out the physics equation in his head.] Okay, if I strike it right here, that should do it!

[He takes a few measured steps back. Pushes a box back with his foot, just to give himself better clearance. Crouches in position, the way he learned by watching Sonic, getting ready to do a spin dash...]

[But he doesn't want to do it this way. Having thought it all through, he can already see the collateral damage. If someone walks past right when he launches himself? They'll either get hit in the face by the door, or in the chest by the fox himself.]

... seriously, is anyone out there who can help? Because if not... you might wanna stand back!


2. OCARD — KEEPING AN EYE ON EGGS, MAN

[The festivities are interesting, and he would love to make new friends and build those bonds... but ultimately, Tails is a little goody-two shoes who can't help himself from helping others. Besides, that's where he usually finds his friends — right in the thick of trouble, lending a hand to those in need.]

[So, as soon as he hears there's egg thieves out there? He's on the case. And with his sharp attention to detail, he's pretty good at spotting when someone's hiding a smuggled egg on their person.]

[What he seems to have a little more trouble with is calling them out on it. In fact, right now he's talking to a thief who is literally holding an egg in their hands... and who is insisting that it's just a gaudy bit of treasure. And they were just hiding it to avoid attracting attention. They were trying to avoid misunderstandings like this one! Really!]

[The more they try and fast talk Tails, the less confident his own words sound. Because he's sure the egg is real, but...]

N-no, I'm not trying to bullyg anyone! I'm just... this is important! We have to be diligent, and... [His mind is clearly going a mile a minute.] Look, if it's real, then it should absorb elemental magic, right? Then you should't mind it being testing, should you? ... well, actually, I don't have any of my own yet, but...

[He looks over in your direction, hoping to find the support of someone stronger and braver and cooler than he is.]


DRAGON'S GALE — THE FRESHEST FOX IN TOWN

[Tails hasn't picked out any sort of elemental magic yet. ... well, no, that's not true. He's pretty sure that wind magic is the ideal choice, since it pairs nicely with his flight. But the idea of having a tattoo makes him self-conscious, so he hasn't jumped at the opportunity.]

[But he's in for a literal taste of it now, thanks to one of those rainbow dragon peppers. After hearing about their properties, he has acquired one of the icy-colored peppers, and is taking little bites of it as he walks around the stalls.]

Huh! I was wondering if the elemental properties would change the flavor... I thought it would be more minty than this. [A small laugh, and then he admits,] But I guess that was more wishful thinking, rather than anything scientific.

[At that moment, he walks near a stall that specializes in heavily spiced foods, and even sells satchels of the spices being used. And boy, the air is thick with warm, peppery scents. A waft of it tickles his nose, and...]

Hahh... hatchoo!!

[Before he can cover his mouth, he sneezes — and lets out a huge burst of his icy breath, which coats the ground in front of him like an ice rink.]

[And it looks like there's more freeze-sneezes coming, based on the way his eyes are watering. He's already gasping in a few quick breaths, readying the next one...!]


WILDCARD

[Open for other gen prompts. Please feel to DM if you're not sure!]

1

[spinsandneedles]

[SHOCKINGLY, Sonic doesn't love being on a boat in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by water on all sides. He especially doesn't love being below deck where he can't see the waves coming. As such he was quickly making his way back up to the deck after doing whatever below deck activity he'd just finished, but stops in his tracks after hearing what he's pretty sure is a familiar voice calling out from... somewhere. He hadn't pinpointed it exactly, but he doubles back to around about where he'd heard it from and found himself outside of a closet door.

Rather than doing the smart thing and calling out to see if someone was there, he presses his ear to the door. Psh, why would someone be in the closet? He's gotta be hearing things, right?]

lyria | granblue fantasy | corsair | tdm

[azuresong]

I. Arrival

( A ) [ Waking up on a ship wasn't an out the ordinary experience for Lyria... but waking up upside down on one certainly was.

She blinks, finding her long hair obscuring most of her view, but what she could make out was the world around her flipped around and seeing the sky on the floor. The young girl yelps, squirming slightly until she realizes the ropes around her waist keeping her in place. She seems to be pretty high up upon the shrouds, so moving around too much will only make her come tumbling down...! ]

H- help! Someone, please!

[ She's hopelessly reaching out in any direction, trying to find something solid to take ahold of. ]

( B ) [ Should she be successful in getting down (and being very thankful for that!) Lyria's next task was to acclimate herself better into this world... which involved getting her powers back. After asking around and retrieving her old clothes, the girl stands a few feet away from the tattoo parlor with a look of nervousness about her. She turns back and forth on her heels, shoulder slacked and attempting to take a step forward before retreating back to her spot. This is done several more times before eventually she begins to mutter to herself, almost defeatedly. ]

You can do this, Lyria... you can!

II. Snake Bangles

[ Despite the difficulties of her arrival, this blue haired blue is almost too ecstatic to arrive just as a festival was taking place, and to receive brand new jewelry, too!? How sweet could they be! So sweet in fact, that as Lyria almost skips down the main plaza, she can't help but ring out into a small and excited hum. ]

Bangles, baaangles! So bright, shiny, and fun~
Snakes and dragons and friends from everywhere! Oh, how fun it is to— ahh! [ AND SMACK.

The force of the bangle yanking her hand towards yours causes the poor girl to nearly topple over, possibly ramming into you from the impact. Thankfully she's pretty light, but the suddenness of it all is shocking nonetheless. ]

Oh! I'm so sorry!

III. MANTA- Pirate Insults

[ Beware, partner, for you are now facing your greatest foe yet! Lyria stands before you at the ready, her face molded with a sudden seriousness about it.

She steps forward, pointing at you, before shouting: ]

Argh! Ye boots... um! [ How does she even insult someone!? But she's too determined to stop now, especially with the eyes of the other pirates looking at her! This is how they spoke, so she was going to try her best! ] Ye boots look like they be needing some scrubbin'!

[ GOTTEM]

IV. Wildcard

[ Anything else you wanna plot out? Throw them at me! You can also find me over at bittypipsqueak to chat it up for more ideas! ]

ii SLAMS IN HERE LIKE THOSE BANGLES

[flamekthunder]

[He's glaring at the bangle on his wrist, something that was forced on him despite his refusal. Well it's not like it's on his wrist forever, all he has to do is take it off before—!!?!?]

...What, Lyria!?

[Fortunately or unfortunately for Lyria, Eustace was pretty much like a wall, so although he had to take a step back he was able to grab her. But he's now staring her dumbstruck.]

Denji | Chainsaw Man | Corsair

[nutsornothing]

[Closed threads to follow within~]

Midadol - The Time has Come

[nutsornothing]

[Not this again. Denji remembers this song and dance all too well from last years Dragon Gale festivities when he was subjected to their whims saving Rem from the would be clutches of a lightning dragon looking to lord over their victims like treasure. Now it seems another wished to lay claim to a person held dear to the boy, one who'd been immensely kind to him in recent memory after his return to Escordvi's shores. Perhaps they had seen the pair enjoying their fill of the commemoration proceedings and thought to persecute Midadol to their fiendish games?

Whatever the case may be the hybrid makes the arduous journey to the castle which his counterpart's captor called their own nestled high within the mountain peaks. Dredging through the trials and tribulations until finally coming to the large chamber filled with gold coins and riches far exceeding anything he's ever seen. Loud footsteps breach the uneasy quiet filling the treasury as the looming threat of the massive fire drake reveals themselves. "So you're the one who came to save this young lass after all...It appears I was right to assume you held some modicum of affection towards the girl."

Standing before the scaly beast with teeth grit in disdain the creature nods its head towards a gilded cage hanging from the ceiling where Midadol laid trapped within. A devilish burst of laughter erupts from the dragon clicking its maw with its vision narrowing on the teenager extending out the 'friendly' contest of battle to free his companion from the assailants clutches. "If you can best me in combat I will see fit to return her to your side but disappoint me and I shall keep her as my prized possession. Now steel yourself and fight!"]

You asked for it! I'm gonna rip you a new one just remember this was all your fault when you're bleeding out on the floor!

[A hand moves to the pull cord ready to yank it forward to reveal his devil form to his companion for the first time but before he does winks up at her with a confident toothy smirk.]

Don't ya worry about a thing, Mid! I'll kick this dragon's ass no problem and have you outta here in no time just hang tight, alright!?

Sherlock Holmes | Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened (2023) | Paladin

[astudyinviolet]

MANTA: Light up the night (general, Eltrut)

[ Sherlock holds onto the end of a string attached to a flying butterfly. He had eyed the very round cat, but given that Basker is accompanying him in this clearing, he doesn't want to encourage any cat and dog fights. The butterfly kite flutters around. Basker gives chase with happy barks.

Sherlock has figured out how small tugs on the string coaxes the butterfly to turn and fly through rings Sherlock made of light. Not wanting to be left out, Basker also tries to jump through rings of light. This may cause a small three-headed puppy to ram into someone's leg. Sherlock comes over to check on both of them. ]

My apologies, are you all right?

MANTA: Post: A rumour of a mad alchemist (general, Eltrut)

[ Sherlock was not spared from the lycanthropy curse when he and Lyney investigated that alchemist. However, his curse took a different form.

So there is a small, scraggly, underfed looking black cat (not quite a kitten but still very young) with strange grey eyes and a thin ribbon bow around his neck cowering underneath an outdoor table and looking positively spooked and confused. His fur stands on end, and he trembles. His eyes are WIDE open as they dart back and forth at the feet passing by.

Those who are familiar with Sherlock might recognize the ribbon he ties around his shirt collar. It has the Bubble Charm and Amulet of Buoyancy laced through it. ]

Mmrp...

MANTA: Temple ruins (special)

[ Sherlock is alway eager to explore ruins. It connects him with his long dead parents, both who were archeologists. Maybe some other version of himself and Mycroft got to spend longer with their parents. Maybe they would have used their deductive skills to study the past alongside Siger and Violet Holmes.

Before Sherlock is what looks to be some large pieces of glass and metal. He sits on the floor sketching the entire area. (He has taken some pictures as well, but a camera doesn't always capture what he wants to focus on.) ]

Have you seen these elsewhere in the ruins?

Ocard: Lightning and Darkness Dragons

[ It's been a full year since Sherlock arrived in this world. His time during this celebration had been full of questioning his sanity and adjusting to his new life. He happened to come across two dragons: a lightning and a darkness dragon. They had both stared at him in disbelief over his lack of sleep, a disaster of a living being. Now they can sense that Sherlock is finally getting sleep. The lightning dragon laughs and says, "I was just telling Onyx that if we saw you again, that she should try extracting whatever was plaguing you."

"Opal, I told you that his sleep demons are a completely different thing! Why don't you cough up an amulet for him?" ]

You know me?

[ "Yeah, we saw you last year, and while you have been sleeping, you're trying to stay awake again, aren't you? Well, that's no good. Why don't we take a little nap?" ]

Wait! Don't!

[ Opal the Lightning Dragon yawns and causes Sherlock to fall asleep. The two dragons then curl up next to him. Try to wake the sleeping dragons or Sherlock? Join in for a little nap and join a shared dream world? ]

Ocard: Dragon's Gale Food Stall Chaos

[ Rupert Louis, a canary birdfolk, is the poor Paladin who got the unhappy task of dealing with Sherlock and Heizou whenever they come to bother the Paladins about something they are investigating. Rupert thought he was going to be able to take a vacation away from those two headache-inducing detectives. Instead, he sees one and in the process of trying to escape before he's noticed, he barrels into a food stall sending dragon croissants and rainbow dragon peppers flying into the air.

Some of the pastries and peppers landed in the noodle soups causing the contestants to transform or start breathing different elements. That in turn causes those people to panic, flinging hot soup around. The "Eltrut's Spicy Noods" is especially bad because getting that spicy broth in the eyes burns, which then causes more panic. ]

Hell's bells! We need to calm everyone down!

[ Easier said than done considering the size of some of them. ]

Wildcard

[ Want to do something else? Write a prompt or drop me a line at Sherry's journal, aviekokyre, or on Discord @ aviekokyre and we can plot something out. ]

rumour of a mad alchemist! sometime before dragon's gale

[garudas]

[There's this nice little café on Eltrut that Benedikta likes to visit once in a while with a favourite book in hand, where she can enjoy a cup of tea and a few chapters in silence. Could she do so at home on the Roost? Yes, certainly, but sometimes a girl just needs to get out of the caves and up onto the top of a turtle's shell to feel the wind and the sun. And with Eltrut slowly moving away from cooler waters, the weather is nice for it—not too hot, not too cold.

Everything is going just fine, and she has her cup of steaming hot tea in one hand, a plate with a scone in the other, and her book tucked under her arm as she goes to take the last table left on the café's patio.

Only to discover exactly why the table is the last one left.

Spotting the little black cat, she cocks a hip and waves her cup at it.]

Why is it always cats... Shoo.

[Too bad she doesn't recognize the charms around his neck, though they are curious. What in the world is a cat doing with those?]

Pomni | The Amazing Digital Circus | undecided | new player

[ghostinacolorfulshell]

[Pomni awoke on deck to the smell of salt in the air, and deeply moist wood on her cheek. Something was bracing about the experience that tickled her nose and sent a shock through the rest of her body. Awakening the colorful clown to a world far removed from her the virtual world she had just moments ago called home.

While this could have been another one of Cain's adventures, there was something off. It was too “Real,” for lack of a better term. Cain's adventures always had some level of artifice to them. Like games made to be played, rather than actual worlds. This was the latter, and as she attempted to right herself and achieve some semblance of balance reality began to set in. Was this reality? If so which one? She didn't have time to think about it, as she began to panic.]

Where are you taking me?!

Festival

[Noodles]

During-

[Having been acclimated to the new adventure she'd been placed on, Pomni has wandered, nearly famished and ready to experience the real world for the first time in an unknown period, and has managed to get herself roped into a noodle-eating contest. Not realizing the nearly literal ton of food that would be heaped upon her plate, she looks hesitantly over the meal she had been inspired to eat. And, in a moment, began to dig in, even if she couldn't finish, the novelty of an insane amount of food that tasted like real food was enough to cheer her on.]


After-

[Pomni had more or less eaten herself into a sort of sleepwalking state, wandering the festival grounds in a haze inspired by the ingestion of far too much food. Only slightly lucid, the colorful clown of a girl is doing her best to stay upright, only to fall over once and laugh about the matter. Overall she's in a far better mood than she was before filling her stomach with local cuisine.]

After!

[withermarked]

[Faulkner is on edge, between the dragons and the snakes and well, just about everything else. Even the food seems to have effects that he does not trust at all.

Which means he jumps at least a little when the... clown? falls over directly in his path.

At least they look--well, not human, maybe, if that's their real face, but more human than a lot of them.]

Are you... you okay there?